This powerful charcoal portrait by John Singer Sargent, Portrait of Percy Chubb I (1923), reflects the artist’s extraordinary command of tonal drawing during the final years of his career. Depicted in three-quarter view, the sitter emerges from a dark, atmospheric ground, his features shaped through confident contrasts of light and shadow. The composition demonstrates Sargent’s ability to convey presence and character with remarkable economy, relying on tonal structure rather than linear detail.
Sargent’s charcoal technique here is fully aligned with his academic portrait practice, revealing a sculptural sensitivity rooted in classical draftsmanship. The sitter—formally dressed in a suit, vest, and tie—is rendered with decisive highlights along the brow, nose, and cheekbones, balanced by deep shadow passages that give the portrait a sense of gravity and psychological depth. The restrained background heightens the focus on expression and form, allowing the sitter’s individuality to register with immediacy and authority.
Signed and dated “John S. Sargent 1923” along the lower margin, the drawing measures 21 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches and retains the intimacy characteristic of Sargent’s works on paper. Its provenance, from the Estate of Sally G. Chubb of Bernardsville, New Jersey, firmly anchors the portrait within the Chubb family history and adds meaningful context to the sitter’s identity. Offered at auction, this work represents a compelling and authentic example of Sargent’s late portrait drawings—highly prized for their directness, technical mastery, and enduring expressive power.
Auction:
2026 Annual New Year’s 2-Day Auction
Day 1: Thursday, January 1st, 2026 – 10:00 AM
Day 2: Friday, January 2nd, 2026 – 12:00 PM
Bid In Person:
Nadeau’s Auction Gallery
25 Meadow Road, Windsor CT 06095
Bid Online:
Bid.NadeausAuction.com
Also available on LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable
