Sketch of Lady Hamilton; verso: Partial Sketch for Moses, Boston Public Library 1896

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's sketch of Lady Hamilton, done in pencil. It's surprisingly small, almost intimate, and I'm struck by its unfinished quality. What draws your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: It's like catching a fleeting thought, isn't it? Sargent's capturing not just a likeness, but a sense of the subject's inner world. Notice the confidence in the linework, even where it's sparse. Do you see how the sketch implies the planes of the face with such economy? Editor: I do. The eyes especially seem so alive, even with minimal detail. What do you think Sargent was hoping to convey? Curator: Perhaps a sense of her spirit, that famous charm. It's a study, of course, but even in its brevity, it hints at the power of observation and the magic of suggestion. I find it quite moving, actually. Editor: I agree, it feels very personal, and now I see so much more! Curator: Indeed, and art becomes a dialogue we have with the artist, across time.