John Singer Sargent was an American artist born in Florence, Italy in 1856. He studied in Italy and France and was considered the leading portrait painter of his generation. He produced around 900 Oils and 2,000 Watercolours. This portrait, painted in 1902, is of John Fyfe, a prominent North East Granite Merchant and Quarry Man. Although his sitter lived in Bucksburn, and Sargent visited the area on many occasions, it is thought to have been painted in his London studio. The portrait hung for many years in the offices of John Fyfe Ltd at Westhill, and later in Aberdeen Art Gallery. Another local dignitary painted by Sargent was Mrs Crombie, wife of John Crombie of Grandholm Woolen Mill, and also in Aberdeen Art Gallery. Sargent died in 1925