Study for Second Angel from Left; Left Arm with Sword, for "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Study for Second Angel from Left; Left Arm with Sword," part of his sketches for the Boston Public Library murals. The muscular arms holding a sword feel powerful, almost confrontational. What can you tell me about its meaning? Curator: Sargent’s angels aren’t the gentle figures we might expect. The sword, a potent symbol across cultures, speaks to divine authority, but also to conflict and judgment. Do you think the figure embodies an avenging or protecting force? Editor: I see both; there's strength, but also a sense of responsibility. It’s less about violence and more about upholding a higher order. Curator: Precisely. Sargent is tapping into the enduring symbolism of angels as intermediaries between the earthly and divine realms, tasked with enacting justice. His mural integrates cultural memory with psychological drama. Editor: That shifts my perspective completely. I was focused on the physique, but the deeper symbolism is really compelling.