John Singer Sargent: Sculpting

"The Crucifix" by John Singer Sargent
A maquette 1/3 size for the Boston Public Library murals

"While engaged at Fairford on his Boston decorations John Singer Sargent had made several attempts to model in clay. Modelling thenceforward was for him a recognized means to attaining his effects in the Boston Public Library decorations. Ranging from low relief to near sculpture in-the-round, the relief materials included painted and gilded plaster, papier-mâche, metals, wood, glass, and Lincrusta-Walton (a nineteenth-century wall covering material). 

In 1901 he exhibited at the Academy 'The Crucifix,' his most important piece of sculpture for the Boston murals. No one who looks at it can doubt Sargent's emotional interest in these decorations. Here on a Byzantine cross Sargent has placed the figure of the dying Christ. Adam and Eve are stationed closely to it in a crouching attitude on either side, each holding a chalice to receive the Blood of Christ. At the foot is a pelican feeding its young with the blood from its breast, an ancient symbol of the Resurrection. The Crucifix, the groundwork of which is gold, is so placed that the foot of the Cross forms part of the frieze of the angels below it. The remainder is included in the scheme of the lunette of the Trinity immediately above.

Whistler, as soon as he saw it in the Academy, wrote to Sargent to say how fine he thought it, and Whistler was not given to praising Sargent's art. Sargent himself considered that he had succeeded beyond his hopes. It was a work for which he had more liking than he generally allowed himself to entertain for his achievements. 

He gave to a few of his friends a small reproduction, and in a letter to Lady Lewis gave directions how it should be hung. 'I am sending you the little bronze crucifix which I feel I rather thrust upon you, but still I know you will like it if only that it will remind you of the better big one. It ought to be hung about the level of one's eye and if possible not in too strong a side light. A top light is best but now easy to find in a house unless you can find room for it on your staircase. But to dictate where a gift horse is to go would be looking the recipient in the mouth as Solomon says. I am only too delighted that it should be in your house.'"

To be continued

(Excerpts from "John Sargent" by Evan Charteris.)