John Singer Sargent, an American painter, was born in Italy but spent most of his adult life in London. His work crossed the boundaries between Impressionism and Naturalism. He frequently mingled with the Impressionists, but was viewed by them with much skepticism. They admired his technical abilities but dismissed his seriousness as an Impressionist. Monet was the only artist of the group who befriended Sargent, acting as a mentor and confidant.

Later in his career, Sargent created scenic watercolors, moving away from portraiture. These later images are a welcome diversion from some of his more serious figurative works.