Study for the Prophet Joel, Boston Public Library; verso: Study for the Prophet Obadiah 1892 - 1894

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent’s charcoal and watercolor study for the Prophet Joel, intended for the Boston Public Library. It feels like a quick sketch, capturing a moment of intense emotion. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Sargent's studies for the Boston Public Library murals are fascinating because they reveal the institutional context of his art. How does a public space, like a library, shape the choices an artist makes about subject matter and style, especially with religious figures? Editor: That's a good question. I hadn’t thought about it that way. I guess he was trying to capture this figure in an accessible but reverent way for the public. Curator: Exactly! And what does this looser style communicate compared to his more formal portraits? Editor: It feels more raw and immediate, less about individual identity and more about universal themes of prophecy. Curator: Precisely. It's a really interesting study in how Sargent adapted his talents for a public role. Editor: I see what you mean! I learned so much. Thanks!