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

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Studies for Second Angel from Left, 'Israel and the Law,'" part of his Boston Public Library commission. Editor: It strikes me as a study of struggle, even violence. The figures are contorted, dynamic, but also seems burdened. Curator: It’s fascinating to consider Sargent's choice of angels to represent such themes as “Israel and the Law", within a major public building. Angels were a traditional symbol of divine intervention. Editor: Angels are supposed to be heavenly, aren't they? These figures, though, they seem to be wrestling with something very human. The loose lines almost make them appear tormented. Curator: Perhaps this choice of depicting angels in such a manner was Sargent's way of democratizing his paintings, and making them more relatable. Editor: I see figures bound by law, maybe even trapped by it. That changes how I view the symbols of angels that would be considered the savior. Curator: It is a reminder of how artistic choices can alter interpretations, and how public art engages with societal themes.