Study for Second Angel from Left, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's study for an angel, a charcoal sketch. There's a real sense of restrained power in this figure, even in its unfinished state. What strikes you most about this study? Curator: It's that tension, isn't it? Sargent captures this monumental figure with such delicate lines. You see the musculature, the potential energy, but also a vulnerability. It's like he’s caught the angel in a moment of contemplation before action. The softness of the charcoal almost whispers a question: what compels such strength? Editor: So, it's more than just a preparatory sketch then? Curator: Oh, absolutely. It’s a glimpse into Sargent’s process, his wrestling with the figure’s presence, its purpose. It's a fragment brimming with untold stories, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I do now. It's amazing how much feeling he conveys with so little.