Spanish Soldiers

Here Sargent’s underdrawing only loosely blocks out forms, such as the center figure’s feet. The reclining figure at the right may initially have been sketched either sitting up or positioned more to the right, where graphite marks suggest the figure’s hat. This is one of three watercolors sent to Knoedler Gallery in 1909 that belonged to friends and family and were to be returned to Sargent. Ironically, Knoedler accidentally returned a different Spanish Soldiers to Sargent and included this one (signed and inscribed to his friend at upper right) in the sale to Brooklyn.