Study for Hell
between 1903 and 1916 Museum of Fine Arts Boston
About this artwork
This charcoal drawing is a preparatory study for a figure depicted in the artist's monumental mural project for the Boston Public Library. It focuses on the muscular anatomy of a prone, tormented figure, demonstrating Sargent's mastery of gesture and shading.
Did you know?
John Singer Sargent is primarily remembered for his society portraits, but he spent over 25 years working on an exhaustive mural cycle titled 'Triumph of Religion' for the Boston Public Library. This study was part of his rigorous process for the 'Hell' section of the murals, where he drew inspiration from historical masterworks by Michelangelo and Botticelli to depict complex, writhing figures. The immense physical and intellectual pressure of this decade-long commission eventually led Sargent to abandon portraiture almost entirely in his later years.
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Study for Hell
John Singer Sargent, between 1903 and 1916
