Drapery Study for "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's drapery study for "Israel and the Law" at the Boston Public Library. It's a charcoal drawing, and I'm really struck by how dynamic and almost sculptural the fabric appears. What historical context might inform this study? Curator: Well, Sargent’s murals for the Boston Public Library were a major public commission. Studies like these, depicting fabrics, served as crucial preparatory work, but also reflect a broader trend in academic art. How do you see the "law" reflected in the drapery itself? Editor: I hadn’t considered that! Perhaps the way the fabric is structured and defined, suggesting order and form? Curator: Exactly. And how might the choice of drapery, often associated with classical sculpture, connect to ideas about justice and tradition that were being promoted in public spaces at the turn of the century? Editor: That's fascinating. It’s not just about artistic skill, but also about embedding cultural values. Curator: Precisely. Sargent was consciously participating in shaping public perception through his art.