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Ruth Draper as a Dalmation Peasant

ca. 1914
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
American actor and monologist Ruth Draper (1884–1956) established her reputation with impersonations of various characters that she brought to life with amazing veracity. Sargent executed a conventional charcoal portrait of Draper in 1913 before seeing her perform. Draper described how Sargent, apparently mesmerized by her performance, told her, "Destroy the portrait. I want to draw you as one of your characters." He later created this intense likeness of Draper in costume. Sargent presented this bold, dark charcoal drawing and another sketch to Draper as a token of his admiration. Draper recalled, "He would not take a cent for them, not a cent."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ruth Draper as a Dalmation Peasant
  • Artist: John Singer Sargent (American, Florence 1856–1925 London)
  • Date: ca. 1914
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Charcoal pencil on paper
  • Dimensions: 23 7/8 × 18 7/8 in. (60.6 × 47.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Museum of the City of New York. Bequest of Ruth Draper, 1957.
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing