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.
[Illustration:
_Micah, Haggai, Malacchi, Zechariah. The Frieze of the Prophets_
]
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.
[Illustration:
_Obadiah, Joel, Zephaniah, Hosea. The Frieze of the Prophets_
]
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.