Shoulders and Chest of a Male Nude, for "Hell," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent’s charcoal sketch, "Shoulders and Chest of a Male Nude," intended for his "Hell" mural at the Boston Public Library. It feels unfinished, raw. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: Sargent’s "Hell" series, steeped in Dante's Inferno, faced public controversy. The nude figures, particularly, were deemed too graphic for a public space, reflecting anxieties about morality and the role of art in shaping public perception. Editor: So, the scandal wasn't just about the subject, but also about public accessibility? Curator: Precisely. It highlights the complex dance between artistic expression, societal values, and institutional control, reminding us that art is never created or viewed in a vacuum.