Study for "Frieze of Prophets," Boston Public Library

John Singer Sargent

Created:

Movement:

1916

None

key Notes:

Prophetic Figures, Monumental Composition

Dimensions:

40 x 60 1/4 in. (101.6 x 152.7 cm)

medium:

Oil on canvas

Difficulty:

Intermediate

New game

story of the work:

"Study for 'Frieze of Prophets'" is a preparatory work created by John Singer Sargent in 1895 for a mural commission at the Boston Public Library, which aimed to depict significant figures from religious and philosophical traditions. The painting exemplifies Sargent's mastery of composition and color, serving as a pivotal study that informed the final mural's execution, which remains a prominent feature of the library's interior.

Description of the work:

"Study for 'Frieze of Prophets,' Boston Public Library" by John Singer Sargent is a preparatory work characterized by its dynamic composition and expressive figures, rendered in oil on canvas. The painting features a series of elongated, draped figures that embody a sense of movement and spiritual gravitas, utilizing a muted color palette that emphasizes the interplay of light and shadow.

Artwork Photograph Source:

Harvard Art Museum

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