Beyond Beauty

“A masterpiece. Devon Cox’s stunning biography reads like a thriller. His writing and research are without equal’
Joanna Lumley
‘Beyond Beauty is an absolute delight. I have always loved Sargent’s work and now I love it even more for the new insights Devon Cox brings to this masterly biography. It is as elegant and entertaining as its subject’
Sue Prideaux, author of Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gaugin
‘Entertaining, compelling, revelatory – this is the must-read biography of the year’
Gyles Brandreth
‘This deeply researched and elegantly written biography deconstructs the enigmatic Gilded Age artist John Singer Sargent, whose luxe high society portraits hint at the rustling, inner lives of his subjects—while providing clues to his own rebellious spirit and repressed sexuality. Author Devon Cox deftly explores the dual worlds Sargent straddled: though an habitué of the drawing rooms of titled nobility and plutocrats, he befriended bohemian artists who flourished in a gender fluid culture that flouted convention. An exhilarating read’
Donna Lucy, author of Sargent’s Women
‘Devon Cox is passionate about his subject, and his devotion is reflected in his writing. This phenomenally detailed, consistently sensitive account gives us not only the charismatic painter of fashion and beauty but the multi-faceted, introspective man’
Sue Roe, author of Hidden Portraits: Six Women Who Shaped Picasso’s Life
‘Devon Cox tells the story of Sargent’s life and he tells it well, keeping the artist centre-stage among a host of outgoing characters while covering new ground in style. He has mastered the sources with lots of new quotes, and telling anecdotes to reveal traits of Sargent’s character that would otherwise remain hidden. The book goes with a swing and carries one along. He has done a great job in bringing the artist to life and charting his career and that in itself is a remarkable achievement’
Richard Ormond, Sargent’s great-nephew and author of, John Singer Sargent: Complete Paintings

Devon Cox is author of The Street of Wonderful Possibilities: Whistler, Wilde & Sargent in Tite Street. Originally from the USA, Devon moved to London after completing his degree and has worked as a researcher at the Imperial War Museum, London and Sotheby’s auction house. He has appeared in several TV programmes for Arte, BBC, and Sky Arts.

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