John Singer Sargent was an American artist born in Florence Italy to American parents in 1856.  Considered by many as the leading portrait painter of his generation, he is known for his society portraits on both sides of the Atlantic which featured both Europeans and Americans.  His best known portrait, Madame X (1884) received mixed reviews due to the sexual suggestiveness of her pose.

Another social class of society gained Sargent’s attention when he arrived on the Island of Capri in 1878.  Rosina Ferrara, a native of Capri from working class parents, became his muse. He and other artists were captivated by her exotic looks.  Sargent painted her many times capturing her natural beauty. Sargent died in 1925 in London at the age of 69.

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