From Matt Davies
<Matt Davies@jssgallery.org> 
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 

According to the catalogue, Sargent "painted" [I assume they mean "drew"] both Geoffrey and his brother, John Edward Murray Smith. Geoffrey served in World War I in France as a second lieutenant with the Fifth Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. Only months after arriving in France, he was killed in action at Vermelles.
 

Note:
Special thanks to Matt Davies, of Kansas City, a friend of the JSS Gallery, for help with some of the info. 

The Berger Collection, which is housed at the Denver Museum of Art, includes three Sargent works. This is one of three.
 

Provenance: 

Commissioned from the artist by the sitter's family; thence by descent; Christie's, South Kensington, June 13, 1997, lot 12.

Exhibited: 

600 Years of British Painting: The Berger Collection at the Denver Art Museum October 19, 1998-March 28, 1999; reproduced in the accompanying catalogue on p. 215. 

Sale

Offered Christies; 6/13/2001; Lot 88; estimated $15,000-$35,000
 

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