Henry James and American painters

 "Santa Maria Della Salute, Venice,"   (1903-1907, watercolor on paper), by John Singer Sargent, in the show "Henry James and American Painting,'' at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, through Jan. 21.

The museum (sadly now most famous as the victim of the biggest art theft in history) comments:

"Henry James (1843-1916) was an American writer who is considered to be one of the greatest novelists in the English language. His literary work includes such well-known and beloved novels as Portrait of a Lady and The Ambassadors. What one may not know is that he held close relationships with several artists of his day, including the Italian-born painter John Singer Sargent (1856- 1925).''

James spent much of his later life living in England but before then lived in Boston and Newport, R.I., among other places. Sargent's father was from Gloucester, Mass.