Apr 7, 2025
Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children
Artist: John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925)
Date: 1896
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Collection: Tate Britain, London, United Kingdom
Description
This is a portrait of Adèle Meyer (née Levis) with her daughter Elsie Charlotte and son Frank Cecil. Her husband, a banker, was foreign emissary of the Rothschilds and chairman of De Beers. The theatrical composition of the painting, with its plunging perspective, perhaps reflects Mrs Meyer’s own passion for theatre and opera. By using studio props, including the wood paneling and Louis XV sofa, Sargent created an image of opulence and unapologetic wealth reflecting the status of Adèle Meyer in society.
