Asher Wertheimer
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.Asher Wertheimer (1844–1918) was a leading art dealer in London, where he sold old-master paintings, fine ceramics, and objets d’art to elite collectors. The companion portraits of Asher and his wife, Flora (not shown), were painted to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary.
In his characterization of the art dealer, Sargent treads a fine line between realism and caricature, presenting his sitter as shrewd, self-confident, confiding, and humorous. Wertheimer was clearly delighted with his portrait and over the course of the next decade he went on to commission a further nine portraits of his children and a second portrait of his wife.
In his characterization of the art dealer, Sargent treads a fine line between realism and caricature, presenting his sitter as shrewd, self-confident, confiding, and humorous. Wertheimer was clearly delighted with his portrait and over the course of the next decade he went on to commission a further nine portraits of his children and a second portrait of his wife.
Artwork Details
- Title: Asher Wertheimer
- Artist: John Singer Sargent (American, Florence 1856–1925 London)
- Date: 1897–98
- Culture: American
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 58 × 38 1/2 in. (147.3 × 97.8 cm)
Framed: 70 1/2 × 50 3/8 × 5 13/16 in. (179 × 128 × 14.7 cm) - Credit Line: Tate: Presented by the widow and family of Asher Wertheimer in accordance with his wishes 1922
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing