Mrs George Batten Singing 
John Singer Sargent -- American painter 
c. 1897 
Glasgow Museums: Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove
Oil on Canvas 
88.9 X 43.2 cm. 
Signed and Inscribed across upper edge: To Mrs. Batten John S. Sargent 
Jpg: Friend of the JSS Gallery
 
From: Matt Davies   
<matt davies@jssgallery.org>    
Date:   Fri, 12 Jul 2002  

 
Mrs. Batten (nee Mabel Veronica Hatch, c. 1857-1915) was the daughter of an upper-class military family, and grew up for a time in India. There she met and married George Batten, an older military officer, and later they moved to London.  In 1908 she began a lesbian affair with the author Marguerite Radclyffe Hall.  She was a talented amateur mezzo-soprano.  Sargent admired her and presented her with this portrait.   
 

Notes: 
Special thanks to Matt Davies, of Kansas City, a friend of the JSS Gallery, for sending me a  note regarding this image. 

The Portrait of a Lady: Sargent and Lady Agnew, by Julia Rayer Rolfe, with David Cannadine, Kenneth McConkey, and Wilfred Mellers.  It was published by the Trustees of the National Galler of Scotland as the catalogue for the exhibit of the same name which was held there 8 August-19 October 1997.

 
 
Created 7/29/2002