Questions to arouse interest. Who were the “prophets”? How many are represented in this picture? Relate some incident or event in the life of any one of them. What book tells about the lives of these men? Of what benefit were they to the world? How many groups are complete in themselves? How are the five groups held together to form a single composition?

The story of the frieze. This painting is placed on the third floor of the Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts, in what is known as Sargent Hall. The third floor of the library contains valuable collections of books on special subjects, and to approach these rooms we must pass through a long, high gallery. This is Sargent Hall, named in honor of the artist who decorated its walls. At about the time that Mr. Abbey was asked to decorate the walls of the Delivery Room, Mr. Sargent, also an American, received a commission to decorate both ends of this hall or gallery. He was paid fifteen thousand dollars for the work. So successful was he in pleasing the people, and so much enthusiasm was aroused, that immediately an additional sum of fifteen thousand dollars was raised by popular subscription, and Mr. Sargent was urged to complete the decoration of the entire hall.

The “Frieze of the Prophets” is only a part of the decorations of Sargent Hall. Mr. Sargent has described the complete scheme of decoration as representing “the triumph of religion, showing the development of religion from early confusing beliefs to the worship of the one God upon the basis of the Law and the Prophets.”

MOSES

One glance at the picture tells us that the central figure, that of Moses, is the most important among the nineteen prophets represented. Of all the prophets Moses is considered the most ideal and superhuman, and thus Mr. Sargent has tried to represent him. By using more conventional lines, and by modeling the figure in low relief so that it stands out from the rest of the picture, he has produced this distinguishing effect. The face, beard, shoulders, arms, and Tables of the Law stand out in the painting as if they were carved from stone. In fact, as we look at him we think more of a monument than of a painting. The wings crossed so stiffly make the figure seem all the more erect, while the feathers seem to send out rays of light over the entire picture. The earnest face with its deep-set eyes suggests the strength and courage of that great leader who felt that upon him lay the responsibility for the restless, ignorant idolaters whom he was to lead.

When we read the story of the prophet’s life we are filled with wonder. From the very first it was unusual. Moses was born at the time when the wicked king of Egypt commanded that all boy babies of the Israelites should be drowned. But his mother kept him hidden until he was three months old. Then she placed him in a small boat or ark which she pushed out among the flags and grasses of the river.

We all know how the daughter of Pharaoh found the child and adopted him as her own son. She named him Moses, meaning “to draw out,” for, as she said, she had drawn him out of the water. Grown to manhood among the Egyptians, his open sympathy for his own people caused him to be banished. Then, in the vision of the burning bush, which burns yet never is consumed, the Lord appeared to him and told him that he was to deliver the people of Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians. But when he was told to go to speak to Pharaoh his courage deserted him, and it was not until after several miracles had been performed and divine help promised that he was willing to go.

Aaron, brother of Moses, went with him to ask Pharaoh to permit the Israelites to go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord. But Pharaoh only laughed at them. A great many dreadful things had to happen to Pharaoh’s people before he would give his consent—the water was turned to blood; the land was covered with frogs, and lice, and flies; the cattle were afflicted with a dreadful disease; man and beast were covered with running sores; hail destroyed most of the crops; locusts came to devour the rest, and the whole country, except the land in which the Israelites dwelt, was cast into darkness. During each of these scourges Pharaoh would send for Moses and beg him to ask God to deliver the land, saying he would let the Israelites go. But as soon as the danger was removed he would refuse to keep his promise.

Then came the most dreadful scourge of all—the death of the first-born in every Egyptian home. Again Pharaoh had failed to heed the warning of Moses. There was weeping and wailing in Egypt that day, for every home lost a loved one. In great haste the king sent messengers to Moses, giving the Israelites his consent to go and even urging them on their way.

So with their families and their worldly goods the Israelites started out in search of the promised land under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They had scarcely begun their weary journey before Pharaoh regretted having allowed them to go, and sent spies and an army after them. But a “pillar of cloud” came between the two camps and hid the Israelites that night. In the morning the Red Sea, over which they must cross, divided before them and they walked across on dry land between the walls of water. When they had passed, the waters closed in again and destroyed the pursuing Egyptians.

Then comes the wonderful history of those forty years’ wanderings in the wilderness, led by clouds by day and pillars of fire by night, until the Israelites reached the promised land. During all this time, under the guidance of the Lord, Moses taught his people and directed them in all their affairs. Yet they were not capable of understanding his great spiritual convictions, for at one time, when Moses remained on Mount Sinai forty days and forty nights communing with God, he found upon his return that his people had made themselves an idol and were worshiping it. Their faith seems never to have been very strong, and they were constantly in need of the help and encouragement of their great leader.

From Mount Sinai, Moses brought them the two stone tablets, with the Ten Commandments written upon them.

In his picture Mr. Sargent has represented Moses with two little horns on his forehead. After Moses came down from Mount Sinai, where God had spoken to him, his face shone, or, as the Bible says, “sent forth beams or horns of light.” These horns are also shown very distinctly in Michelangelo’s wonderful statue of Moses.

Here we see him represented as a sort of spiritual giant, holding toward us for our observance the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments upon which all Christian living should be based.

JOSHUA

During the forty years’ wandering in the wilderness many hostile tribes were encountered and had to be subdued. Then a young man, strong, energetic, and skillful in arms, came forward to lead the army. This young leader was Joshua, represented at the right of Moses in the act of sheathing his sword.

Moses himself saw the promised land far off from the top of a mountain. The Lord had told him to go there to look upon it, as he could not live to reach it. Moses then spent his last days instructing his people and their new leader, Joshua the warrior, who was to guide them to the end of their journey.

Having received the promise of divine help, the Israelites under their new leader again took up the march. When they reached the River Jordan, it, like the Red Sea, divided and allowed them to walk over on dry land; the guarded massive walls of Jericho fell that they might enter and possess the land. But there were still other hostile tribes to be conquered before they could feel that the land was really theirs. They were successful in all their battles except one, in which defeat came to them because one man had stolen plunder and hidden it in his house contrary to his promise to God. The sin confessed, victory returned.

When all the land was conquered it became Joshua’s duty to divide it among the different tribes, a long and difficult task. This accomplished, he gathered his people together and told them that his time of leadership was about to end. Then he made them decide for themselves whether they would henceforth worship idols or the one God. They vowed they would worship the one God, and Joshua caused them to erect a monument as a reminder of their vow.

In our picture the simple, straight lines of the figure of Joshua are suggestive of the determined, forceful character of the man. They give an impression of great strength. Notice how the light falls upon his upraised arm and the straight folds of his garment. It seems to come directly from the wings of the figure of Moses, as if to acknowledge the wisdom and inspiration which Joshua received from the great leader. The face of Joshua, half hidden under his hood, is thoughtful yet determined. Here is a man of strong, steady purpose, pressing on persistently until he, with all his people, should reach the promised land.

Of a quite different type is the prophet Elijah, whom we see at the left of Moses. This enthusiastic leader, regardless of physical comforts or earthly pleasures, bends all his energies toward the one great cause. His complete forgetfulness of self is well represented here by the careless draperies, the intense feeling in the face, and the strained muscles of the neck and arms. We know little about his life until the time when he was sent as messenger to the palace of the wicked King Ahab. This king over the Israelites lived in a magnificent palace made of ivory and gold, with beautiful gardens about it. But his wife, Jezebel, was a wicked woman, and a worshiper of idols, and she persuaded Ahab to build a great temple to one of her gods, Baal, and to worship with her.

One day, without any warning, a strange-looking man wearing a cloak of camel’s hair and carrying a strong staff in his hand, appeared before Ahab in the throne room of his magnificent palace. It was Elijah, and without even bowing to the king or showing him any respect whatever, he delivered this dreadful message in a loud voice: “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” Before the astonished king could answer, Elijah had disappeared.

Then the Lord warned Elijah to hide by a certain brook called Cherith, for Ahab would pursue him. Here he lived three months, fed by the ravens and hiding in caves in the rocks, for this brook was hidden between two hills of rock covered with leaves. But soon the brook became dry, for there had been no rain. Then again came the message of the Lord, telling him to go to a certain widow’s home many miles away, where he would be taken care of. As Elijah neared the gates of the city where she lived, he met a woman gathering sticks. He asked her for some water and bread, but she told him she had just enough meal to make one little cake for herself and her small son. After that they must die, for she was very poor. She had been gathering the sticks to bake the cake. Then Elijah told her to make a cake for him first, and not to be afraid, for the Lord had told him her meal and oil should not give out before the rain came. She did as he said, and, sure enough, she had as much meal and oil as before. Then she knew this to be a man of God, and offered to let him stay in her home.

Elijah remained there two years, during which time the drought continued over Israel, and Ahab sought the prophet in vain.

Then came the voice of the Lord commanding him to go again to the king with a message. Ahab was very angry when Elijah again appeared; but Elijah was not afraid. He ordered Ahab to gather all the Israelites at Mount Carmel and to bring there also the prophets of Baal, the heathen god. But the wicked Jezebel had caused all the prophets of the Israelites to be put to death, so that Elijah was alone against the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. While he waited, Elijah spent the time in prayer.

When all were gathered at Mount Carmel, the king in his royal purple robes, the false prophets in their white robes and high pointed caps, and all the attendants, officers, and servants, the great figure of Elijah loomed up before them, demanding in a loud voice how long they were going to take to decide whether to serve God or Baal. None dared reply. He told them to bring two oxen; one, the prophets of Baal should prepare for sacrifice, the other he should prepare. Each should call upon his God, and the God that answered by fire should be supreme. The people thought this very fair, as Baal was supposed to be the god of fire.

The prophets of Baal were allowed to try first. In vain they called to the sun, and danced about the altar, waving their arms wildly, begging Baal to hear them and to send the fire—but there was no response. Is it any wonder Elijah said to them: “Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.” They continued their supplication all day, but to no avail.

Then Elijah called the people close around him, prepared his offering, and commanded them to pour water over it several times and also to fill the ditch surrounding it with water, that they might be fully persuaded. Then Elijah’s prayer was immediately answered by a fire, which not only burned up the offering but licked up the water around it. Then the people were persuaded, the false prophets were slain, and rain descended upon the land.

But Jezebel was very angry when she heard these things, and sent word to Elijah that he, too, should share the fate of the prophets of Baal. Elijah fled. It was at this time he rested “under a juniper tree,” which has since been known as an expression of discouragement.

Again came the message of the Lord, sending him to the land of Israel, where he should proclaim his successor, Elisha. Elijah spent the rest of his life instructing young men, of whom Elisha was his most devoted follower. When his work was over he was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire.

DANIEL

Next to Elijah in the frieze stands Daniel, that stanch leader whom nothing could dismay, not even the fear of being placed in the lions’ den. He does not look as if he could easily be persuaded to turn aside from what he believed was right. The fixed folds of his garment correspond with his features and his character as we know it. In his hands he carries a piece of parchment upon which is inscribed in Hebrew, “And they that be wise shall shine.”

His was an unusual life full of strange experiences. He was fourteen years old when the people of Judah were taken captives to Babylon by the victorious King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was chosen with several other boys to be trained as pages for the king; then many strange things happened to him. In the first place his name was changed from Daniel, which means “God is my judge,” to Belteshazzar, after one of the idols of the Babylonians. All the pages were given these strange heathen names. They were treated very kindly but were expected to eat the rich food from the king’s table, most of which had been offered to the idols.

When Daniel found this out he made his first stand for what he believed was right. Feeling that it was wrong to eat this food, he persuaded three of the other boys to go with him and ask the king’s officers to give them plainer food. The officers consented to test this diet with the four boys, and at the end of three months found they had gained in strength more than the other pages, who had continued to eat the rich food; and so Daniel’s request was granted. All the pages had to study very hard, for they had to learn the language of the Babylonians besides many other things. When they were brought before the king to be examined three years later, Daniel and his three friends were found to be the brightest scholars of all. People began to look up to them, and to call them very wise.

Not long after this King Nebuchadnezzar had a very strange dream, but when he woke up in the morning he could not remember what it was. He called his wise men together, but none could tell him what he had dreamed. He became very angry and ordered them all put to death, even Daniel and his friends, whom he thought ought to be wise enough to tell him.

All that night Daniel and his friends prayed for help, until, utterly weary, they fell asleep. In a dream the Lord told Daniel what to tell the king. King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream had been about his kingdom, and who should rule after him, and he was amazed that one so young as Daniel should tell him what he had dreamed and what the dream meant. He gave Daniel many presents and made him a great ruler.

Daniel continued in favor with Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, Darius. So much was he favored that the other officers of the king wished to destroy him. Appealing to his vanity, they persuaded Darius to set aside thirty days in which all his people should pray to him just as if he were a god. He made this dreadful law among his people, who were Medes and Persians. Of course we know how Daniel continued to pray to God, was watched, and reported to the king. Then King Darius saw the trap which his officers had set for Daniel. He was greatly distressed, but not even a king could change a law among the Medes and Persians. He had said that any one who disobeyed his law should perish in the den of lions.

But we know how Daniel was taken care of; how the king rejoiced to find him alive the next morning; and how all the people marveled and believed in the God who had saved him. At this time Daniel was eighty years old. God sent some wonderful dreams to him, and he was able to prophesy many things that should happen to the Jews. It was through him that they were delivered from their captivity.

JEREMIAH

At the right of Joshua we see Jeremiah, the prophet who so bitterly lamented the afflictions of his people. He is often called the “weeping prophet.” So Mr. Sargent has represented him in that attitude of grief and discouragement, standing there with his eyes cast down in sorrowful meditation. His whole life was spent in what seemed a fruitless strife against the evils of his time, for his warnings were disregarded, and his people were hurrying toward their destruction.

Mr. Sargent has made us feel the hopeless despair of this strong man who tried so hard to save his people from all the misery they so willfully brought upon themselves. He even went about the streets wearing a yoke on his neck, to symbolize the coming servitude of the nation which refused to heed his warnings and repent. His life was in constant danger; he was imprisoned, thrown into a damp, unwholesome cistern, and was often obliged to hide for months in caves among the rocks to escape the king’s anger.

Other prophets could declare God’s protection and hold out some hope for the good to come, but Jeremiah’s message spoke only of evil and sorrow. It took great courage to go about on so unpopular and sad a mission, without even a miracle to prove his words true, and always alone among people who were unfriendly and did not believe in him.

The first one of Jeremiah’s predictions to come true was when Daniel and the Israelites were taken captives to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Again he warned them not to go into Egypt, but they not only went but compelled him to go with them.

The last we hear of Jeremiah is in Egypt, urging his people to give up their idols and worship God. He is indeed, as Mr. Sargent has represented him, “the prophet of sorrow”; and yet the figure is one of strength. Neither in his face nor in his bearing is there any sign of indecision or turning back.

JONAH

Next, partly hidden from view, we see Jonah, the unwilling prophet, who tried to run away when the Lord told him to take his message of warning to Nineveh. The people in this city were known to be very wicked, and Jonah feared they might kill him, so he took a boat and started away in another direction. We all know of the fearful storm that arose and how the sailors prayed to their gods and urged Jonah to pray to his. But Jonah could not pray to God when he was disobeying Him. Then the sailors drew lots, as was the custom, to find out who had sinned and brought the fearful storm upon them. The lot fell to Jonah, who told them how he had run away from Nineveh. He urged the sailors to throw him overboard, saying the sea would then be still. The men did not want to do this, but, fearful lest all should be lost, they finally threw him overboard. At once the wind died down and the sea was still. We know how the whale was sent to swallow Jonah and to carry him safely to the shore, where he was left, now very willing to deliver his message to Nineveh.

He was to tell these wicked people that in forty days their city would be overthrown. He went about the streets dressed in a rough camel’s-hair cloak, very much like Elijah, and called out his prophecy in a loud voice. No wonder the people were frightened, and when he told them how he had not wanted to bring the message and had been forced to, they were more frightened than ever. All the people, and the king too, wept and prayed God for forgiveness, neither eating nor drinking. Then God heard their prayers and forgave them, and their city was not destroyed.

But Jonah felt very much hurt because his message had not proved true. He thought only of himself, and felt that he had been cheated. He went away by himself and built a small place of shelter just outside the walls of the city. Here he sat and waited, still hoping Nineveh would be destroyed. Suddenly a tree sprang up, its dense leaves protecting him from the hot sun. Jonah was greatly pleased and refreshed, but the tree as suddenly withered, and he was left grieving for it. God then spoke to him and asked him how he could grieve for the tree, yet harden his heart against the people of Nineveh, who had repented.

Jeremiah’s greatest grief was that the people would not heed his warnings, while Jonah felt aggrieved because his prophecy was not fulfilled.

In the picture we see Jonah reading a scroll bearing the one word “Jehovah.”

ISAIAH AND THE LESSER PROPHETS

Next to Jonah we see Isaiah, the enthusiast, prophesying the coming of Christ’s kingdom. Note how the light falls on the head and shoulders, and on the upraised arms of the prophet, and is echoed, so to speak, by the light on the lower folds of his robe. All lines and lights lead the eye upward, even as Isaiah sought to lift his people up into a higher, better world. He is the hopeful figure in this group of four.

Habakkuk stands next with his far-seeing eyes missing the heavenly visions which surround Isaiah, but seeing the sorrows and evils of the world and trying in vain to remedy them.

The next group to the right represents the three prophets of hope, Haggai, Malacchi, and Zechariah, all pointing toward the section of the wall where Mr. Sargent’s new painting, “The Sermon on the Mount,” will be placed when finished. The one doubtful figure, Micah, who is looking back, serves to hold this section of the picture to the other figures in the frieze.

EZEKIEL AND THE LESSER PROPHETS

At the left-hand side of the frieze and next to Daniel, stands Ezekiel. Ezekiel lived at the same time as Daniel and, like him, began his prophetic career after he was exiled to Babylon. During the twenty-seven years of his exile he kept his fellow exiles informed as to all dangers which were besetting and threatening their people at home in Jerusalem and Judah. His book abounds in visions and poetical images. Mr. Sargent has given him the absorbed expression of one who sees beyond the present and whose vision includes both evil and good.

Nahum, standing next to Ezekiel, seems to be predicting the wickedness and fall of Nineveh, of which he has given us such a powerful and vivid account; while Amos denounces idolatry and the sins of the nations, also predicting a brighter future for the people of Israel.

The four figures in the last panel to the left of Moses represent the prophets of despair. We cannot fail to notice that among the hopeful prophets there is one discouraged figure, while among the prophets of despair we find the hopeful figure of Hosea.

Obadiah, Joel, and Zephaniah urged their people to repentance of sin, and warned them of disaster to come, but their warnings were not heeded. In the picture Joel is attempting to shut out the sight of the fearful plague of locusts, of the famine, and of the drought which he knows must come to his people because they will not repent. The other two prophets seem crushed by a hopeless despair. But love is the keynote of Hosea’s pleadings. He speaks of the unquenchable love of Jehovah for his erring people.

It is interesting to know that Mr. Sargent’s favorite figure in the frieze is this young prophet in white, Hosea. Is it any wonder he should choose this one? The name Hosea means salvation. In him we see beauty, grace, and simplicity, and we feel the steady purpose, the earnest faith, of that calm, quiet face. There is no despair in that face or figure; the very folds of his robe give us a feeling of strength and stability; they suggest marble.

We are interested in this great mural painting, “The Frieze of the Prophets,” not only for its intellectual and religious suggestiveness, but for its composition, its masses of dark and light, and its beauty of form. Each of the groups of figures is complete in itself, yet by the position of the figures and by the light upon them, the frieze is held together as one composition.

Mr. Sargent spent many years, and studied his Bible very thoughtfully, before he attempted to draw this great picture.

Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Who were the prophets? What had they to do with the development of religion? Who painted this picture? Where is the original? What can you say of the composition of this picture? of the light and shade? What do we call paintings on a wall? What is there unusual about this painting? For what do you admire it? Why was Moses given the most important place in this picture? Tell the story of his life. Why is he often represented with two little horns on his forehead? Tell something about each one of the prophets. Which one is Mr. Sargent’s favorite?

To the Teacher: Certain pupils may be selected to study and give orally a description of different portions of this picture.

The story of the artist. We are especially interested in Mr. Sargent because he is one of the living American artists who has won fame both in his own country and abroad. Although John Singer Sargent was born in Florence, Italy, we claim him as an American because his parents were Americans and because he has always considered himself an American. His boyhood was spent in Florence, where it was his delight to wander in the art galleries. He showed an early talent for drawing, and when he was nineteen years old he went to Paris to become the pupil of some of the best artists.

Mr. Sargent is famous for his many portraits as well as for his mural decorations. He has traveled extensively and has visited the United States many times, painting and exhibiting his paintings here, but most of his life has been spent in London, where he is now living. In 1908 he was elected to the Royal Academy. He has won many medals of honor for his paintings, and is a member of the leading art societies of America and Europe.

Among the noted pictures by Mr. Sargent are: “Carnation Lily, Lily Rose,” “Fishing for Oysters at Cancale,” “Neapolitan Children Bathing,” “El Jaleo” (Spanish Dance), “Fumes of Ambergris,” “Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth,” and “La CarmenÇita.” As a portrait painter Mr. Sargent has been commissioned by men and women of high distinction in literary, political, social, and artistic life in America and Europe. Among his eminent sitters have been: Joseph Chamberlain, Carolus Duran, Theodore Roosevelt, Secretary Hay, and Octavia Hill.

Questions about the artist. Why do we feel an especial interest in Mr. Sargent? Where was he born? Why do we claim him as an American? Where did he study drawing and painting? For what kind of paintings is he famous? Where does he live?