Legs and Drapery for Angel at Left, "Israel and the Law," Boston Public Library 1895 - 1916

Curator: This drawing by John Singer Sargent, now held at the Harvard Art Museums, is a preparatory study titled "Legs and Drapery for Angel at Left, 'Israel and the Law,' Boston Public Library." Editor: It looks unfinished, almost like a ghost, but there is a strong sense of movement implied by the shading. Curator: As a study, it reflects the dynamism Sargent sought for his allegorical murals. The drapery, in particular, carries so much symbolic weight. Editor: And I wonder what that weight might be for communities historically impacted by legal systems claiming divine mandate. It’s interesting how something as simple as drapery can take on such charged connotations. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a reminder of how symbols evolve. I think this drawing allows us to consider both the artist’s intent and subsequent interpretations. Editor: A complex interplay, for sure. Makes you think about justice, power, and how they're visualized.