Apollo and the Muses 1921

John Singer Sargent made this monochrome mural panel of Apollo and the Muses, probably with oil paint, for a private residence. Imagine him, brush in hand, wrestling with this whirl of figures, all draped in gossamer robes, dancing around Apollo. I can almost feel Sargent’s excitement as he painted it. The figures seem to burst from the dark background. You know, when I look at this piece, I see a painter in love with movement. He orchestrates the swirling drapery so expertly, creating a sense of rhythm and flow throughout the composition. His paintings always show how much he appreciated other artists, from the old masters like Velazquez to his contemporaries like Monet. Sargent understood that painting is a conversation, an ongoing dialogue between artists across time. He invites us to experience the joy of that exchange, seeing the world anew through the lens of his art.