John Singer Sargent: an American in Worcestershire

Saturday 17 January – Sunday 14 June 2026 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

Showcasing the work of John Singer Sargent, one of the most celebrated portrait painters of his time, this exhibition explores his role within the Broadway colony of artists in Worcestershire. His summers spent in the county saw the American artist break free from the conventions of Salon-style studio painting to experiment with Impressionism and work ‘en plein air’, producing famed works such as Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, painted in a Broadway garden.

The exhibition includes works not seen before in Worcester, with loans from Tate, British Museum, Ashmolean Museum and Houghton Hall.

The exhibition reflects the importance of the Broadway colony of artists on Worcestershire’s artistic heritage; the circle of avant-garde creatives included Frank Millet, William Morris, Lawrence and Laura Alma-Tadema and Edward Elgar.

John Singer Sargent was influenced both by traditional realism and by the growing spirit of Impressionism. He became most renowned as a portraitist, with a remarkable ability to capture the individual likeness and character of his sitters, many of whom were wealthy patrons on both sides of the Atlantic.

Over the course of his career, Sargent focused on society portraiture, impressionist landscapes of his travels, and, as an Official War Artist from 1918, the devastating effects of modern chemical warfare.

Open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm) and Sunday 10am – 3pm (last entry 2pm).

Exhibition admission

Tickets are required to visit this exhibition. There are a variety of ticket options to choose from. You are welcome to pay in the shop when you arrive. The rest of the Art Gallery and Museum is free to visit as usual.

The exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sunday. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Or call the telephone box office on 0333 666 3366.

Please note that admission tickets now include a booking fee following the introduction of Ticketsource in November 2025. Find out more about Ticketsource. Please find the refund and cancellation policy here.