The John Singer Sargent exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay, we tell you all about it

The Musée d’Orsay is devoting a major retrospective to John Singer Sargent from September 23, 2025 to January 11, 2026.

Over 90 works from international collections will be on display. The exhibition aims to restore Paris to a central role in the career of this painter, still little-known in France, but celebrated in the United States and the United Kingdom.

A landmark return for Sargent in Paris

The Musée d’Orsay will highlight John Singer Sargent’s Parisian period, between 1874 and 1884. Trained by Carolus-Duran, he developed a daring, modern pictorial virtuosity. His portraits reflect the energy of young Parisian artists at the end of the 19th century.

This decade was marked by masterpieces such as Dr Pozzi chez lui and Les filles d’Edward Darley Boit. The exhibition invites the public to understand the evolution of his style and his innovations in the art of portraiture. Over 90 works, some never before shown in France, will enliven this major retrospective.

The partnership with New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art amplifies the brilliance of this presentation. The event places Paris at the heart of an international dynamic that promotes artists sometimes neglected locally. This collaboration brings added prestige and promises record attendance.

An exhibition with a strong cultural dimension

The Musée d’Orsay highlights the importance of female patrons in Sargent’s career. Their decisive role will be highlighted through portraits and testimonials from the period. This approach enriches the historical and artistic reading of the artist’s career.

Special guided tours, including in sign language, are planned between October and December 2025. The exhibition is therefore part of a wider accessibility drive. In this way, the museum is demonstrating its commitment to welcoming all publics, local and international alike.

Online ticketing is strongly recommended for this event. The museum invites you to book in advance to avoid long waits. The strong anticipated demand could make this exhibition a milestone in the Paris cultural season.

From rise to historic controversy

John Singer Sargent’s Parisian career was marked by triumphs, but also by an artistic scandal. His painting Madame X, exhibited in 1884, caused an uproar at the official Salon. The controversy led to his departure for London, where he built a lasting reputation.

This tumultuous period will be extensively covered in the Orsay exhibition. The presentation will give the public a better understanding of the impact of 19th-century social attitudes and aesthetic codes. For Sargent, this Parisian chapter forged the character of his future work.

By placing these episodes in context, the exhibition helps to correct the relative oblivion of Sargent in France. It also responds to the lasting recognition he enjoys abroad, particularly in the United States and England. The public will thus be able to rediscover a major artist of modern portraiture.

“John Singer Sargent is one of the greatest painters of the 19th and early 20th centuries, widely celebrated in the United States and the United Kingdom but little known in France.” – Musée d’Orsay

An exceptional transatlantic partnership

Collaboration with New York’s Met gives a rare breadth to this exhibition. Prestigious loans and scientific coordination reflect the international importance of the event. This partnership will have a major impact on the dissemination of Sargent’s work to the French public.

The Musée d’Orsay curators emphasize the educational aspect of the exhibition. The idea is to offer an immersion into Sargent’s Parisian years. The variety of works presented guarantees both technical and historical insight.

The role of international visitors will not be negligible. Attracted by the Met’s reputation, many art lovers are likely to make the trip. The event reinforces Paris’s position as the capital of major exhibitions.

“The exhibition offers a new discovery of the painter through his Parisian years, from his training to his early success.” – Musée d’Orsay press release

An unmissable cultural event

The exhibition Sargent. Dazzling Paris enriches an already rich artistic season in the capital. It joins other major events and confirms the influence of the Musée d’Orsay. Art lovers and the curious will be able to approach a work that has often remained on the other side of the Channel or the Atlantic.

The event illustrates a trend towards restoring the visibility of 19th-century American artists. This dynamic is accompanied by a reflection on the influence of Paris in the history of art worldwide. It calls into question the power of the capital as a creative engine.

At the crossroads of French and American history, Sargent’s career will be revisited in detail. This rereading will enable a dialogue between past and present. It also opens up prospects for the valorization of other artists rarely shown in France.

The Parisian cultural season offers a wide range of unique experiences. From fashion shows to major exhibitions and festive events, autumn promises to be full of surprises. To take advantage of this program, enthusiasts can consult thematic selections on the Paris Select website, notably in the “What to do in Paris ” and ” Experience” sections.