[1] It is part of Sargent's larger Triumph of Religion mural cycle in the library's central branch at Copley Square.

[2] Sargent was reluctant to respond publicly to criticism of the work, but privately wrote in 1919, "I am in hot water with the Jews, who resent my ‘Synagogue,’ and want to have it removed– and tomorrow a ‘prominent’ member of the Jewish colony is coming to bully me about it and ask me to explain myself.

In official correspondence with the library, Sargent described it as "Triumph of Religion—a mural decoration illustrating certain stages of Jewish and Christian religious history."

[3] Synagogue and its counterpart, Church, appear on the East wall, on either side of a space reserved for a depiction of Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount, which was never finished.

Sally M. Promey identifies three key themes: individualism and subjectivity overcoming law and doctrine; a reaction to World War I; and concealment and revelation.

Promey writes that prior to the mural’s installment, Boston Herald critic  Frederick William Coburn opined that "in the interest of racial and religious amenity in this community, one hopes that Mr. Sargent has avoided the old middle-age bigotry in working out this perilous theme, as no doubt he has done.

"[4] Artist Rose Kohler also found the work to be un-American, writing that "it was felt that in this century and in America, we had advanced sufficiently to cast aside the notions and prejudices of the dark ages.

[citation needed] In 1922, Representative Silbert introduced a bill that would allow the state to remove the painting, which passed in the Senate and was signed by the Governor.

"[4]: 189  Privately, he asserted that the painting was justified due to its medieval precedent, and expressed gratitude that the library allowed it to remain.