Study of Donatello's "Saint John," Frari, Venice 19th-20th century

Curator: John Singer Sargent created this sketch, "Study of Donatello's 'Saint John,' Frari, Venice". What do you notice first about it? Editor: Its starkness. The minimal lines create a powerful sense of form, almost severe. It's like a blueprint for a sculpture. Curator: Sargent studied the old masters, focusing on their techniques and social status. This drawing likely served as practice and an entry into understanding Donatello's process. Editor: The rapid strokes convey a raw energy, a dynamism hinting at the sculpting hand that shaped the original figure. Materially, it's simple: graphite on paper, but visually, it implies volumes. Curator: Precisely, and that simplicity, born from labor, highlights the art of both Sargent and Donatello. Editor: It really makes one ponder the art of translation. Curator: Indeed. It's a study that studies itself.