Study after a Statue of Christ, Amiens, France 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's pencil sketch, "Study after a Statue of Christ, Amiens, France." It's a rather quick study, focused on the drapery and figure of Christ. What significance do you see in Sargent choosing to study this particular statue? Curator: Sargent, known for his portraits of the elite, engaging with religious statuary offers a fascinating perspective shift. This study underscores how even established institutions like the Church were subject to scrutiny and reinterpretation through art. Editor: So, it's less about religious devotion and more about examining the church's role? Curator: Precisely. The sketch highlights Sargent's artistic process, and how he engaged with established iconography as a means of understanding and critiquing the power structures of his time. It really challenges our expectations of the artist and his motives. Editor: That's a completely different way of seeing it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!