Overlay Drawing for "Frieze of the Angels," Boston Public Library 1893 - 1903

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent’s “Overlay Drawing for ‘Frieze of the Angels,’ Boston Public Library,” a study now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The size is impressive. What do you make of it? Editor: It feels heavy, almost somber. The deep blues and browns, combined with the gilded fragments, give it a weighty, material presence. I am curious about the layers and their relationship to the final work. Curator: Indeed. As a study, it offers fascinating insight into Sargent's process. Notice the overlay technique, how he's experimenting with the arrangement and details of the angel figures. The labor that goes into its making is evident. Editor: And that labor was destined for a public space, the Boston Public Library. Consider the socio-political climate at the time; this grand mural was meant to inspire civic pride and reflect the cultural aspirations of the city. The choice of religious imagery is very telling. Curator: Looking at this overlay drawing, it highlights the effort that went into the final composition and it makes me appreciate the amount of work. Editor: It is the institutional and social intentions that ultimately gave the work its meaning.