John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, painted in 1890, was acquired at a Sotheby’s auction for $230,500. Previously in a private collection in England, the oil on canvas portrait depicts Vanderbilt bust-length in a black day suit against a neutral ground.

A John Singer Sargent portrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, painted in 1890, has returned to The Breakers, the former Vanderbilt summer cottage in Newport, a National Historic Landmark maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County.

The portrait was acquired in late May at Sotheby’s sale of American paintings, drawing and sculpture in New York City. The purchase price of $230,500 was financed from the preservation society’s collections reserve, supplemented by donations from Vanderbilt family descendants. The painting had previously been in a private collection in England.

The oil on canvas portrait depicts Vanderbilt bust-length in a black day suit against a neutral ground. It has been installed in the Morning Room of The Breakers, where it can be seen by the visiting public.

The acquisition not only returns a key artistic work to the preservation society’s collections, but adds the first work by Sargent to be on permanent public display in Newport.

John Singer Sargent (1856‱925) was the most successful portrait painter of his era, as well as a gifted landscape painter and watercolorist.

The Breakers is at 44 Ochre Point Avenue. For information, 401-847-1000 or www.NewportMansions.org .