The Mosquito Net

This painting by renowned artist John Singer Sargent depicts a young woman reclining in bed under a protective mosquito net. The black net stands in stark contrast to the rest of the painting's lighter tones. Marion Alice (Polly) Barnard, the daughter of a friend, was the model for the painting, which was part of Sargent's private works until his death. Sargent was American but achieved international fame as a portrait painter during his lifetime.