“On March 29, 1918, Sargent's niece Rose Marie, daughter of Mrs. [Violet] Ormond and widow of Robert Andre' Michel who had fallen while fighting on October 13, 1914 was killed in Paris. She was attending a Good Friday service in the church of St. Gervais when a German shell struck
the building, killing seventy people, among whom was Madame Michel. She was a person of singular loveliness and charm, and had figured in Sargent's works, notably in Chashmere, The Pink Dress and the Brook .. .. She had traveled with him on some of his sketching tours, and her youth and high spirits and the beauty of her character had won his devotion. Her death made a deep impression on him.” (Charteris, P210)

By 1918 Rose-Marie Ormond Michel would have been approximately 28 years old. John, of course, had never married and was childless. He must have been drawn to her like a doting father for he was very close to all his family and I think Rose-Marie was his favorite model. The loss he felt must have been no less than the loss of a parent. 

The war has hit home now -- twice.  John's sister Violet won't leave Britain because her boys are enlisting, and Emily won't leave her sister Violet. In the tragic aftermath and with Sargent still in the States, he feels the growing isolated from his sisters.

In America, Bas-Reliefs are installed in the rotunda of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Afterwards he returns to London.

May: he agrees to be an artist for the allies.

In June, at the age of 62, he travels to France as an official war artist and is stationed near the front lines. He is joined by Henry Tonks in July.

In August he travels to Arras.

In September, near Pernne, he makes sketches for Gassed.

Sargent also paints many other paintings and sketches done in the field, there are ones of bombed and burned out churches.

That year, the Armistice is signed and goes into effect at eleven AM, the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The human tragedy to all sides between 1914 and 1918 is horrific.

Back in London his efforts and work are praised and he is pressed to accept the presidency of the Royal Academy. Probably due to his intense fear of public speaking, probably the most important part of the job description, John threatens to flee the country if elected against his wishes. He successfully resists.