John Singer Sargent was an American artist born to expat parents in Florence in 1856. He spent most of his life travelling the world and painting across many genres until his death in London in 1925. John Singer Sargent is credited with 900 oil paintings and 2,000 watercolors. He painted portraits and was considered the leading portrait artist of his generation. He also painted landscapes, cityscapes, and still lifes capturing beauty in people and moments across six art periods from realism to modern art. He had eyes to see and hands to grace us with diversity and appreciation far beyond his time. For the next few weeks we will travel with him through scenes and faces in gratitude for God’s gifts to humankind and to this artist.

This painting reminds us to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary; to move through each day expecting outrageous displays of beauty. This bit of architecture honored in paint shows us repetition in neutral forms all under a serene periwinkle sky. You can almost feel the years and years of nascent prayers these steps have carried to candles soon lit in the church beyond this frame. Sargent seems to have tarried as he climbed these steps – maybe within his own prayers and hoped for candles.

May you also tarry often in the week ahead abiding in God’s love and beauty. Thanks be to God. Amen.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church