Three Studies of a Seated Angel with Sword for "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Three Studies of a Seated Angel with Sword." It's a pencil drawing, fairly large, and quite striking. There's a real sense of searching, of the artist trying to find the right pose. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it feels like Sargent's wrestling with the divine, doesn't it? Look at the angel's pensive gaze, almost burdened. It's not the triumphant angel we often see. I wonder if that reflects some of Sargent's own internal conflicts while working on the murals for the Boston Public Library? What do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered that! It's interesting to see that struggle captured so plainly in what is essentially a preparatory sketch. Curator: Exactly! It reminds us that even masters grapple with their subjects. It humanizes both the artist and the angel. Editor: I'll definitely look at Sargent's work differently now.