Study for Figure above "Music"

Study for Figure above "Music" was created by the acclaimed American artist John Singer Sargent between 1919 and 1920. This powerful figure study, executed masterfully in charcoal on laid paper, demonstrates Sargent’s characteristic draftsmanship, prioritizing volume, gesture, and the dramatic interplay of light and shadow over finite detail. As a preparatory work for a larger decorative commission, the drawing captures the energetic application of the medium, highlighting the artist's quick, observational skill in rendering the human form in a state of dynamic movement.

The classification of the piece as a Drawing places it firmly within the American master’s late-career output, spanning the 1901 to 1925 period, a time when Sargent largely retired from formal oil portraiture to concentrate intensely on large-scale mural projects. The drawing served as a meticulous study for an allegorical figure intended for one of Sargent’s monumental public installations, likely related to the ambitious cycles found at the Boston Public Library or the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The reference to "Music" implies the composition involves allegorical figures or Muses, typical themes dominating his monumental decorative work.

Sargent relied heavily on these detailed charcoal studies to solidify anatomy, pose, and drapery before transferring the composition to the final canvas or wall. This particular study emphasizes the challenging upward gaze and exaggerated, expansive pose required for a figure designed to be viewed from below in an architectural setting.

This significant piece of American art is housed in the distinguished permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work exemplifies Sargent’s commitment to academic rigor even in his most expressive preparatory sketches. Because the study dates from 1919-1920, high-resolution images are often available through the museum. Like many drawings by Sargent, the technical nature of the charcoal on laid paper renders the study suitable for high-quality prints distributed through public domain initiatives, allowing for the widespread appreciation of the artist’s essential preliminary process.