Sketch of The Three Graces, Pompeii (?); verso: Decorative Foliate Detail 19th-20th century

Curator: I find the composition both simple and elegant. The figures seem to emerge from a classical memory. Editor: We're looking at John Singer Sargent's "Sketch of The Three Graces, Pompeii (?)," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small graphite drawing, just over 15 centimeters tall. Curator: The way Sargent captures their interlinked arms is fascinating, isn't it? It is a recurring motif. Editor: Sargent was certainly steeped in classical and Renaissance art; the Graces, or Charities, represent beauty, charm, and joy. It's interesting to see Sargent, known for his society portraits, engaging with such a timeless, symbolic subject. Curator: The drawing has an almost ephemeral quality. The Graces emerge from the paper with a fleeting presence. I find in them a sense of shared joy. Editor: It makes you wonder about the role of classical themes in modern society. I'm grateful that it challenges some contemporary preconceptions. Curator: It does feel like a return, a search for origins. Editor: A fitting reminder of the enduring power of visual symbols.