Shoulder and Arm Studies for Second Angel from Left, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: This is John Singer Sargent's "Shoulder and Arm Studies for Second Angel from Left, 'Israel and the Law'," and it looks like it’s a preparatory sketch. It's interesting how even in a sketch, Sargent captures so much about the human form. What can you tell me about how Sargent's social context might have influenced this study? Curator: Given that this is a study for a mural in the Boston Public Library, consider the commissioning context. Wealthy patrons dictated much of the art world at the time. Sargent, although celebrated, still had to navigate these power dynamics and his mural needed to be accepted by the public. Editor: So, he had to balance artistic expression with public expectations? Curator: Precisely. The Boston Brahmins, the elite of the city, had very specific ideas about public art, often tied to moral and civic uplift, and how did that impact how Sargent approached these studies? Editor: That is something to consider, I didn't think about the elites views on public art. Curator: It shapes the subject, style, and ultimate reception of the work.