portrait of the artist

John Singer Sargeant in his Paris studio.in 1884

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), American painter, in his studio, 41 Boulevard Berthier, 17th arrondissement, Paris, France, with the portrait of Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau), photograph taken in 1884 (c.1885) by French photographer Adolphe Giraudon (1849–1929).

Francis Bacon by Peter Beard   (1970s)

David Hockney photographed by Arnold Newman, London, 1978.

David Hockney 1937 – 2026 David Hockney in his studio with some of his work, circa 1967 Photograph: Tony Evans/Timelapse Library/Getty Images

See archive for more Rodin  

German writer Gunter Grass (1927-2015) caught in a candid moment on the set of the 1979 film of his novel ‘The Tin Drum’. Here he is in candid conversation on BBC wold service.

Maria Boursin. 'Pierre Bonnard examining leaves.' Musée d’Orsay.

“I hold a beast, an angel, and a madman in me, and my enquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their subjugation and victory, down throw and upheaval, and my effort is their self-expression.” ― Dylan Thomas

Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, c. 1924

George Bernard Shaw was a brilliant playwright, but a very odd creature. He is said to have tried sex only once and didn’t like it. He thought vaccination was absolute nonsense and worst of all, he was sympathetic to Hitler, whom he met and thought a remarkable man. He opposed the Nuremberg trials after World War II. Some of this might be explained as simple contrariness, but it still is disconcerting.

Allen Ginsberg and his long-time partner Peter Orlovsky (photo courtesy of Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library)

Paul verlaine, with hat – one of the last portraits of the poet. 1895.

Samuel Beckett and Jasper Johns by Robert Doisneau.

John Lennon at Brian Epstein's office with his Børge Award for "Best Actor" for his role in "How I Won The War", photographed by Bent Rej, May 17, 1967.