Study for one of Angels at Right, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have a sketch, a preparatory study by John Singer Sargent for his mural in the Boston Public Library. It’s titled "Study for one of Angels at Right, 'Israel and the Law.'" The stark charcoal on paper gives it a dramatic, almost theatrical feel. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s like catching a glimpse of Sargent’s creative process, isn't it? The energy in those lines! He's wrestling with form, light, the weight of this angel figure. Do you sense the inherent tension between the idealized form and the raw physicality of the subject? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I see what you mean. There's something unfinished and very alive about it. Curator: Exactly. It's a reminder that even masters grapple with the essence of their subjects, that the journey is as important as the destination. Editor: So true. Seeing this makes me want to grab my sketchbook and just…play.