Sketches of Scales for "Judgment" Lunette; verso: Sketches for Boston Public Library Lunettes, including "Heaven" 1895 - 1916

Curator: This sketch sheet by John Singer Sargent, titled "Sketches of Scales for 'Judgment' Lunette; verso: Sketches for Boston Public Library Lunettes, including 'Heaven'", presents a series of detailed studies in graphite. Editor: The density of the lines gives the impression of numerous attempts, a kind of visual wrestling with form. Curator: Indeed. The verso includes studies for the Boston Public Library murals, specifically related to 'Heaven'. You see how Sargent is exploring the allegorical language. Editor: It’s interesting how he uses these variations to evoke a feeling of balance—or perhaps the precariousness of it. The scales, even in sketch form, are laden with cultural baggage. Curator: He's clearly considering how the formal elements contribute to the narrative. The differing weights and counterweights are not merely structural. They also convey symbolic meaning. Editor: This reminds me that even in preparatory sketches, artists are always thinking of the cultural weight of their symbols. Sargent is carefully calibrating the visual impact of his forms. Curator: Precisely, these sketches reveal the artist’s layered approach. Editor: This level of scrutiny really illuminates the cultural impact of artistic choices.