When john singer Sargent unveiled -- his famous portrait of American beauty virginie gautreau -- at the 1884 Paris salon, Its Subject's bold pose and provocative dress shocked the public and the critics, Smashing Sargent...When john singer Sargent unveiled -- his famous portrait of American beauty virginie gautreau -- at the 1884 Paris salon, Its Subject's bold pose and provocative dress shocked the public and the critics, Smashing Sargent's dreams of a Paris career.