In this video, we will discuss why the Queens Street Grid looks so weird.

Welcome to 21 Beekman Place, a rare and expertly restored residence nestled on the northeast corner of a quiet picturesque street in an iconic Midtown East locale. Once owned by the renowned landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman, who left an indelible mark on the home's design, it features the lush planting styles and formal gardens she was famous for. Set against the serene backdrop of the East River, this stately home provides breathtaking views from nearly every space, with exposures to the East, West, and South. Its coveted location once attracted legendary American composer Irving Berlin, adding to the area's storied past.

Join Stephanie Herdrich, Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Painting & Drawing, Caroline Corbeau-Parsons, Curator of Drawings and Paintings, Musée D’Orsay, Paris, and Paul Perrin, Director of Conservation and Collections, Musée D’Orsay,Paris, to virtually explore Sargent and Paris.

Sargent and Paris explores the early career of American painter John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), from his arrival in Paris in 1874 as a precocious 18-year-old art student through the mid-1880s, when his infamous portrait Madame X was a scandalous success at the Paris Salon. Over the course of one extraordinary decade, Sargent achieved recognition by creating boldly ambitious portraits and figure paintings that pushed the boundaries of conventionality.

Immersed in a cosmopolitan circle of artists, writers, and patrons, Sargent was able to navigate a successful path through the French exhibition system while achieving acclaim and awards. Beyond the portrait studio, he traveled in search of inspiration for his art—finding subjects in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and North Africa. This exhibition gathers Sargent’s diverse works from this period to illuminate his path to becoming an artist, which was indelibly shaped by his experiences in the French capital. These visually stunning works provide a compelling view of the Paris art world of the late 19th century.

The iconic Madame X, a beloved highlight of The Met collection, is the culmination of Sargent’s early years in Paris. The exhibition will take an in-depth look at this captivating portrait and the numerous preparatory sketches, and it will be displayed alongside select portraits of Parisiennes by Sargent’s contemporaries.