Right Arm and Shoulder for one of Angels at Right, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent’s study, "Right Arm and Shoulder for one of Angels at Right, 'Israel and the Law,'" a pencil drawing. The arm looks tense, almost strained. What can you tell me about Sargent's process here? Curator: As a materialist, I focus on the labor evident in this sketch. The visible erasures and reworked lines reveal Sargent grappling with form. How does this study, in its raw, unfinished state, inform our understanding of the final Boston Public Library murals, considering the societal context of such grand commissions? Editor: That's a great point, I had not thought of it that way. I see how the context really shapes the creation of the art.