Study of Perseus for Perseus on Pegasus Slaying Medusa c. 1921 - 1925

John Singer Sargent’s study of Perseus is a drawing, probably charcoal or graphite on paper, made in preparation for a larger mural. The figure is powerfully rendered, with the pose both relaxed and alert. Note the unfinished quality of the drawing, especially in the head and face, this gives a glimpse into the artist’s process, the way he’s thinking through the structure of the body, mapping out the planes and volumes with quick, searching lines. See how the shading is built up with layers of hatching, creating a sense of depth and weight. That hand, reaching out, grasping nothing. Is it a hand of action or contemplation? Sargent leaves it open. He was a master of ambiguity, leaving space for the viewer to complete the picture. Think of Degas, another artist who explored the human form with such sensitivity and insight. Both are interested in movement, and the fleeting moments of everyday life.