Gavin Plumley to Explore the Life and Legacy of John Singer Sargent
Broadcaster giving this month’s talk for The Arts Society Chiswick
John Singer Sargent Carnation Lily Rose Painting
February 26, 2026
A talk exploring the life and legacy of the portrait painter John Singer Sargent is coming to Chiswick next month, as The Arts Society Chiswick hosts cultural historian and broadcaster Gavin Plumley for an evening lecture titled John Singer Sargent: The Private Radical. The event takes place at POSK on Thursday 12 March, with doors and the private bar opening at 7pm and the talk beginning at 8pm.
Plumley will chart Sargent’s prolific career, from his rise as high society’s most sought-after portraitist to the controversies that surrounded some of his most famous works. Although Sargent’s luxurious canvases reflected the wealth and status of his sitters, Plumley argues that beneath the polished surface lay a far more provocative and modern artistic vision. Paintings such as Madame X, The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit and Lady Agnew of Lochnaw shocked Parisian audiences with their psychological intensity and frank depictions of human sexuality, placing Sargent at the centre of debates about modernity and artistic change.
Gavin Plumley is well known for his work across radio, cultural institutions and the arts, bringing history vividly to life through detailed research and engaging storytelling. He previously spoke to The Arts Society Chiswick in 2021 on the Bauhaus movement, and his return is warmly anticipated. Alison Watson, Chair of The Arts Society Chiswick, said the group was delighted to welcome him back to explore the life and times of Sargent.
Guests are welcome, with entry priced at £15 on the door. The fee is deducted from the annual subscription for anyone choosing to join the Society on the night.
Doors open at 7pm, with the private bar available from the same time. Tickets are £15 on the door, with the fee deducted from the annual subscription for anyone who chooses to join on the night. Guests are warmly welcomed.
Membership of the Arts Society Chiswick includes ten expert lectures on the second Thursday of every month (except August and December) and the opportunity to participate in tours, visits, social events and Special Interest Days. Half year Membership available from 1 July. For more information see the society's web site.
The Arts Society Chiswick brings people together through a shared curiosity for the arts, to create opportunities for everyone to be part of a diverse community in which they can enjoy, learn about, participate in, and preserve the Arts and Cultural Heritage.
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