Portrait of Henry James by (James, Henry) Sargent, John Singer - 1913

[London, 1913. One of 300 copies SIGNED by both James and Sargent on the mount. Silver print after the oil portrait by Sargent. 1 vols. 330 x 265 mm. (13 x 10 1/2 in.). Mounted and framed. Fine. One of 300 copies SIGNED by both James and Sargent on the mount. Silver print after the oil portrait by Sargent. 1 vols. 330 x 265 mm. (13 x 10 1/2 in.). The Master, by Sargent. Sargent's painting of James, justly celebrated as one of the great literary portraits, was commissioned by James's friends for his seventieth birthday. The original was given by James to the National Portrait Gallery in London. James was so touched by the generosity of the 300 subscribers, that "he arranged for all of them to receive a photograph of the Sargent portrait signed on the left side by Sargent and on the right by Himself. Sargent's name has all but faded from such of these as survive; but James's name, with its customary largeness and boldness, remains visible." (Edel, The Master: 1901-1916, p. 486). Edel aptly notes "a great feeling of life in the portrait. The Master is caught in one of the moments of his greatness -- that is, a moment of 'authority.'" It is worth our mention that Sargent's signature is fully visible in this copy.