Sketch of Vaulting over "The Doctrine of the Trinity" Lunette, Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Curator: Here we have John Singer Sargent's preparatory sketch for his Boston Public Library murals, specifically the lunette depicting "The Doctrine of the Trinity." Editor: It feels provisional, ethereal. Sargent captures the essence of form, but it’s a ghost of a grander idea, no? Curator: Indeed. Sargent wrestled with this commission for decades, and I think the sketch reflects that struggle. The lunette format itself, the half-moon shape, is loaded, historically associated with religious iconography and authority. Editor: It's intriguing how he uses repeated circles and rectangles. They evoke a sense of eternity and divine order, very traditional. But is he playing with that tradition or fully embracing it? Given the context of the late 19th century, with its own crises of faith and power, this is a crucial lens for interpreting this work. Curator: It's a visual negotiation. Sargent seems to be grappling with how to represent abstract theological concepts, like the Trinity, in a rapidly changing world. It also shows the artist’s evolving engagement with institutional power. Editor: A potent reminder that art is never created in a vacuum. Sargent's sketch reveals a lot, even in its incompleteness.