Sketch of a Statue of Vertumnus in the Gardens of the Villa Falconieri, Frascati, Florence, with Latin Inscription c. 1907

Curator: This is John Singer Sargent's sketch of a statue of Vertumnus, found in the gardens of the Villa Falconieri. It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is that it's a very light, almost fleeting image, quite simple in its use of line. Curator: Indeed. Sargent seems interested in capturing the symbolic weight of Vertumnus, the Roman god of seasons, through swift strokes. The Latin inscription hints at hidden meanings, perhaps about transformation. Editor: And consider the immediacy of the sketch itself. The graphite on paper points to a direct engagement with the site, a rapid assessment of form and setting. What was Sargent thinking about as he worked? Curator: Perhaps how classical forms persist, transformed by time and personal interpretation. Editor: True, and how the act of sketching itself transforms the statue into something new. I wonder what kind of graphite he used. Curator: Ultimately, this sketch shows how symbols can be captured and reimagined. Editor: And how even the simplest of materials can capture a moment of artistic inspiration.