
Not on display
- Artist
- John Singer Sargent 1856–1925
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 711 × 1105 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Presented by the heirs of Mrs Ormond 1957
- Reference
- T00125
Display caption
The Plains of Esdraelon (or Jezreel) extend from the Mediterranean coast to the Jordan river in present day Israel. They are sometimes called the valley of Megiddon, anglicised as ‘Armageddon’, the battlefield in the New Testament where the powers of good and evil fight at the end of the world.Sargent first visited the Holy Land in 1905–6, to make studies which would lend cultural and topographical authenticity to his biblical paintings. However, unlike artists Holman Hunt or James Tissot, his interest was not one of intense religious belief, but a romantic fascination with exotic locations and with ancient customs.
Gallery label, May 2007
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Catalogue entry
T00125 THE PLAINS OF ESDRAELON 1905
Not inscribed.
Canvas (two equal vertical sections on relining canvas), 28×43 1/2 (71×110·5); a 2 1/2 (6·25) painted strip turned over at top.
Presented by the heirs of Mrs Ormond 1957.
Coll: Miss Emily Sargent until 1936.
Exh: Watercolours by John S. Sargent, R.A., Carfax & Co. Ltd, June 1908 (24), as ‘Plain of Esdraelon’ - oil; 53rd Autumn Exhibition, Liverpool, September–December 1925 (134); R.A., winter, 1926 (517).
Lit:
Charteris, 1927, p.297; Mount, 1955, pp.302, 448; Mount, 1957, pp.246, 358.
Repr: Tate Gallery Report 1956–57, 1957, n.p.
The Plains (or Plain) of Esdraelon (Megiddo) in Palestine lie between Harosheth and Haphraim on the north-west and south-east sides, and Legio and Nazareth on the south-west and north-east sides respectively. They extend for approximately twenty miles and are about fifteen miles broad at their widest point. (For details of dating, etc., see T00124.)
Published in:
Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, London 1964, II
Explore
You might like
-
John Singer Sargent Val d’Aosta
c.1908–10 -
John Singer Sargent The Mountains of Moab
1905 -
John Singer Sargent The Misses Hunter
1902 -
John Singer Sargent Professor Ingram Bywater
exhibited 1901 -
John Singer Sargent Hylda, Daughter of Asher and Mrs Wertheimer
1901 -
John Singer Sargent Essie, Ruby and Ferdinand, Children of Asher Wertheimer
1902 -
John Singer Sargent The Black Brook
c.1908 -
John Singer Sargent Alfred, Son of Asher Wertheimer
?1901 -
John Singer Sargent Hylda, Almina and Conway, Children of Asher Wertheimer
1905 -
John Singer Sargent Mrs Wertheimer
1904 -
John Singer Sargent Portrait of Ena Wertheimer: A Vele Gonfie
1905 -
John Singer Sargent Portrait of Mrs Leopold Hirsch
1902 -
John Singer Sargent Almina, Daughter of Asher Wertheimer
1908 -
John Singer Sargent Mrs Philip Leslie Agnew
1902 -
John Singer Sargent Edward, Son of Asher Wertheimer
1902