Studies for Two Angels at Right, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1903 - 1909

Curator: Take a look at John Singer Sargent's study for two angels; it’s a preparatory sketch related to his mural "Israel and the Law" at the Boston Public Library. What strikes you most when you see it? Editor: The musculature is fascinating; it makes me consider what physical labor went into its making. It's not just about divine inspiration, but the human effort involved in even depicting such themes. Curator: Absolutely. Sargent had such an incredible grasp of the human form. You almost feel like you can understand the weight and tension involved in holding those objects. The drawing is so fluid, and you see the ghost of changes he considered. Editor: And consider the materiality of it all: charcoal on paper. Humble materials used to plan a grand narrative. It highlights the tension between labor and meaning. What was Sargent really trying to convey through this work? Curator: I think he was wrestling with the complexities of law and divinity, the relationship between the earthly and ethereal. It's like a glimpse into Sargent's thought process; it is raw and very telling of his talent. Editor: Yes, and it reminds us that even grand narratives are built upon material realities.