“Value” or “quality” ae the same word that describes art and also real life and can be applied to John Singer Sargent paintings. When the term means  “comparative”, Sargent’s work is not of the very, very best, but if the term means “distinctive”, then Sargent accomplishes greatness.

John Singer Sargent uses the word “value” in a number of different ways as do we all. His paintings have value because they can sell for money at a high price. His paintings have value because of their artfulness and significance. Value also is a word that applies to the ton or shade of a color. Value also means moral weight, and we can wonder whether Sargent’s paintings are edifying enough to make the Great Beauties of his time as moral exemplars rather than ornaments, though we do treat movie stars as role models regardless of their morality.