Study for Figure above "Music"

The detailed preparatory drawing, Study for Figure above "Music", was executed by John Singer Sargent between 1919 and 1920. This intimate piece, classified as a drawing, utilizes charcoal on laid paper, demonstrating the artist’s characteristic precision in handling the dry medium for monumental compositions.

The work belongs to a significant phase late in Sargent’s career, placing it firmly within the American art period of 1901 to 1925, when he focused heavily on grand decorative projects rather than his famous society portraiture. Sargent frequently produced vigorous charcoal studies for individual figures, allowing him to resolve complex poses, drapery, and anatomical details before transferring them to the final mural surface. The artist's control over the charcoal medium on laid paper is evident in the dynamic modeling of the figure, utilizing deep, broad strokes to define shadow and negative space to imply illumination. Unlike his commissioned portraits, these preparatory studies reveal an unvarnished approach to form and composition, focusing entirely on spatial volume and anatomical movement necessary for ceiling or wall installation.

This study illustrates the high technical skill Sargent retained throughout his life, even as his focus shifted away from the easel. As a pivotal figure in transatlantic art, Sargent’s contributions shaped the cultural landscape of the early 20th century. This particular drawing is housed within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. While the study remains a unique artifact, the nature of these preparatory works often means that related images, and high-quality prints of Sargent's final decorative series, are widely accessible via public domain repositories, ensuring continued scholarly examination of the master's technique.