Study of Ezekiel for "Frieze of Prophets" by John Singer Sargent is an essential preparatory work executed between 1890 and 1892. This powerful drawing served as a foundational model for the monumental mural cycle Sargent created for the Boston Public Library, illustrating the dramatic scope of the artist’s most ambitious public commission. As a preparatory classification, the sheet utilizes charcoal and white chalk applied meticulously to gray laid paper, demonstrating Sargent's immediate and dynamic approach to modeling volume, rendering voluminous drapery, and capturing the required architectural scale.
Sargent’s technique in this piece is characteristic of his masterful draftsmanship during the period of 1876 to 1900. Utilizing the inherent contrast between the dark, expressive charcoal lines and the luminous highlights of white chalk against the neutral middle tone of the paper, the artist sculpts the ancient prophet Ezekiel. The energetic application emphasizes the intensity and robust posture necessary for a figure meant to be viewed from a distance on a large-scale wall. This American artist, known primarily for his high-society portraiture, devoted significant time to this religious and historical subject matter, demonstrating his artistic versatility in the late 19th century.
This study exemplifies Sargent’s meticulous transition from purely easel painting towards ambitious architectural commissions, marking a significant moment in American artistic practice at the turn of the century. The attention given to the figure’s expressive posture and detailed costume facilitated the accurate transfer of the form onto the final mural. Today, the drawing resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it provides critical insight into the complex evolution of the iconic Frieze of Prophets. Due to its historical and artistic significance, high-quality prints of the work are widely accessible through public domain archives, allowing broad scholarly study of Sargent’s preparatory methods.
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