Sargent and Paris at The Met Store

In 1874, a precocious 18-year-old John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925) arrived in Paris. Over the next decade, he achieved remarkable acclaim by creating boldly ambitious portraits and figure paintings that pushed the boundaries of conventionality—culminating in Madame X (1883–84), which caused an infamous controversy upon its unveiling at the Salon of 1884.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue through August 3, 2025, Sargent and Paris gathers diverse works from this period to illuminate Sargent’s path to becoming an artist, which was indelibly shaped by his experiences in the French capital. 

In celebration of the Museum’s showcase, we’re pleased to present new jewelry, stationery, home decor, and more inspired by Sargent’s extraordinary career. 

Sargent and Paris Exhibition Catalogue

In this richly illustrated catalogue, incisive essays by the world's foremost Sargent scholars explore the artist’s life in Paris—then the epicenter of the cultural world—and the cosmopolitan circle of artists, writers, and cultivated patrons that nurtured his career and helped forge his artistic identity.

Authors highlight the painter's connections to giants of the Parisian art scene as well as the influential patrons who were key to Sargent’s progression as an artist. Presented alongside lavish images of more than 100 paintings and works on paper—brought together from public and private collections throughout the United States and Europe—this publication offers an intimate look at the roots of Sargent's signature, breathtaking style.

Sargent Rose Vermeil Jewelry

Dotted with delicate white sapphires, this vermeil collection recalls the silky bloom held by Charlotte Louise Burckhardt in Sargent’s Lady with the Rose (1882). Burckhardt was the 20-year-old daughter of a Swiss merchant and his American wife, who were members of Sargent's cosmopolitan circle in Paris.

The painting's monochromatic palette, shallow space, and emphasis on the figure's silhouette pay tribute to Diego Velázquez (Spanish, 1599–1660), whose work Sargent studied. In 1882, he exhibited Burckhardt's portrait at the Paris Salon to great acclaim. Our reimagined rose evokes the subject's sophistication. 

Sargent Madame X Crescent Jewelry

The American-born Parisian socialite Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau was greatly admired for her style, and Sargent hoped to enhance his reputation in Paris by painting her portrait. He emphasized his subject's daring fashion sense by showing the right strap of her gown slipping from her shoulder; however, upon the picture's exhibition at the Salon of 1884, it received more ridicule than praise. Sargent repainted the strap and kept the work for over 30 years. When he eventually sold it to The Met, he commented, "I suppose it is the best thing I have done," but asked the Museum to disguise the sitter's name. 

Madame X, as the painting was subsequently retitled, is celebrated the world over for Sargent’s iconic depiction of Gautreau, with her porcelain skin, iconic black dress, and aloof pose. But perhaps less recognizable is the crescent moon headpiece subtly crowning her profile. 

Our dazzling collection of demi-fine jewelry, available in gold vermeil or sterling silver and embellished with white sapphires, pays tribute to this detail in Sargent’s showstopping painting. 

See this Museum highlight in Sargent and Paris, alongside numerous preparatory sketches and select portraits of Parisiennes by Sargent’s contemporaries. Plus, shop the Sargent Rose and Sargent Madame X Crescent fashion brooches, likewise inspired by Lady with the Rose and Madame X.

Sargent Madame Gautreau Zip Pouch

Featured on our zip pouch is a detail from another likeness of the statuesque Madame Pierre Gautreau. Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast (1882–83), from the collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, is a much smaller and more intimate portrait painted a year earlier and given by the artist to Madame Gautreau's mother.

Pair this 100% cotton pouch with the Sargent Madame X Tote.

Sargent Watercolor and Oil Paint Sets

With Paris as his home base, Sargent traveled in search of further inspiration for his art, finding subjects in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and North Africa.

The Sargent Watercolor and Oil Paint sets—complete with the essentials, including tubes of paint, brushes, and paper pads—are perfect for artists similarly on the go.

John Derian Paperweight and Tray

Crafted exclusively for The Met by New York City–based designer John Derian, who's celebrated for his unique decoupage decorations on hand-blown glass plates, trays, bowls, and more, the Venetian Canal Tray (coming soon) and the Figure in a Hammock Paperweight feature details from two paintings by Sargent in The Met collection.

In 1917, Sargent visited Florida to paint a portrait of John D. Rockefeller, after which he continued south to the Miami area to visit his friend and patron Charles Deering. Figure in Hammock, Florida (1917) may depict Deering at his residence on the Miami River.

Like many of his contemporaries, Sargent was captivated by the Italian city of Venice, which he visited frequently between 1898 and 1913. The focal point of his atmospheric watercolor titled Venetian Canal (1913) is the scenic 11th-century tower of the Church of San Barnaba. He positioned himself close to the water, as if in a gondola, to present a view looking down the Rio de San Barnaba toward the Grand Canal. 

Sargent’s watercolors are admired for their fluid spontaneity, evident here in his rendering of the rippling water of the canal as it reflects the nearby architecture and bright sunlight. One contemporary critic celebrated Sargent’s powers of observation and representation when discussing this watercolor, explaining, "His sensitive faculties rejoice in the magic of Italian form and color."

For the duration of the exhibition, shop reproductions of a selection of works in Sargent and Paris with Met Custom Prints. 

Available exclusively through The Met, Met Custom Prints are made to order based upon the dimensions, material, and optional frame of your choosing. In collaboration with USA-based print specialists who use state-of-the-art techniques and equipment, we offer high-quality print reproductions that make for the perfect keepsake or gift. Read more about the process of customizing your very own Met print here.

Shop our full selection of designs inspired by Sargent in-store and online, and visit Sargent and Paris at The Met Fifth Avenue through August 3, 2025.