Studies for Moses, Boston Public Library (recto and verso) 1890 - 1895

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's sketch, "Studies for Moses, Boston Public Library," now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels so sparse, almost fragile. The tentative lines give Moses a sense of vulnerability. Curator: Sargent was preparing for his grand murals at the Boston Public Library, so this captures the early stages of grappling with the figure of Moses. The weight of leadership, perhaps? Editor: Exactly. You can see the labor of ideation here. It's a raw, unpolished study in graphite where you see the artist trying to find the correct angles and the suitable shape. Curator: Consider also how Sargent’s interpretation intersects with dominant cultural narratives about power, law, and liberation during the early 20th century. Editor: And we're reminded that even monumental figures are born from humble, material processes. It brings it all back down to earth.