Joaquín Sorolla And His Contemporaries

On August 7, the Parrish Art Museum opens “Joaquín Sorolla and Esteban Vicente: In the Light of the Garden,” an exhibition featuring the work of the two preeminent Spanish artists in the context of the light and color emanating from their gardens.

In conjunction with the exhibition, on Friday, August 12, at 6 p.m., artist and professor Neill Slaughter will delve into the connections among Sorolla (Spanish, 1863-1923) and his contemporaries, John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925), and Anders Zorn (Swedish, 1860-1920) in a talk at the museum, introduced by Alicia G. Longwell, Lewis B. and Chief Curator Dorothy Cullman.

Sorolla, Sargent and Zorn became internationally renowned during their lifetimes, primarily as portrait artists. All three ultimately turned their practice from portraiture to renderings of landscapes and seascapes marked by brushy naturalism or realism and often depicting the populace, family, and friends. In his talk, Slaughter will explore the similarities and points of departure of the artists working at the same time but in different countries. Throughout his own career as an artist and professor, Slaughter has traveled throughout the world to teach, conduct research, and create art; and has been the recipient of myriad international grants and fellowships including Ford Foundation Fellowship, Scottish Arts Council Grant, LMU Research Grant to Africa, and a Fulbright Fellowship to India. These combined experiences provided him with a unique perspective on art and artists and influenced his own paintings, which often reflect the social conditions of his surroundings.

“Joaquín Sorolla and Esteban Vicente: In the Light of the Garden” runs August 7 to October 16 at the Parrish and it focuses on the work of Sorolla and Vicente through the lens of a mutual affinity for the garden as both theme and inspiration, and to the extent that each created and nurtured his own garden to serve a sustaining vision.

“In the Light of the Garden” is presented in collaboration with the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Esteban Vicente, Segovia, Ana Doldán de Cáceres, Director and Museo Sorolla, Madrid. The exhibition is augmented by paintings and works on paper by Parrish collection artists including Jennifer Bartlett, Charles Burchfield, William Merritt Chase, Robert Dash, Arshile Gorky, Robert Jakob, Jane Peterson, William Lamb Picknell, Fairfield Porter, Ned Smyth, Saul Steinberg, Joseph Stella, Michelle Stuart, Billy Sullivan, and Donald Sultan — each inspired by their own landscapes.

Tickets for the August 12 talk are $12 ($9 seniors, free for Parrish members, students and children) Advance ticket purchase with preevent registration is recommended at parrishart.org. The Parrish Art Museum is at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill.