This painting by John Singer Sargent, El Jaleo, 1882, launches a week of dance images-specifically flamenco-just because I study it and have been missing the esprit de corps of the classroom.

Isabella Stewart Gardner had been introduced to Sargent by Henry James (talk about networking). She loved his work and he even painted for a time in the museum. They were fierce correspondents and when he was in Boston they took in culture together.

Sargent was passionate about Spain, and about music-he was a talented musician himself-and about flamenco in particular. He revered Velasquez. Sargent gave Gardner a series of flamenco albums which she rated. (I need to find out if she also danced!)

As soon as she saw this painting, she wanted it. In remodeling her museum in 1914, she built a Moorish niche and when her in-law by marriage, T Jefferson Coolidge, who owned the painting, saw the space he gave her the painting on the spot.

Sargent captured the vibrant, complex interchange between the dancer and singers--el jaleo. It is very tricky to learn this art of clapping and call and response. Two years later he would paint Madame X.