We were in Boston recently, and we were surprised to see the Sargent murals. I didn't know he'd done any murals, but there were many of them. They were commissioned by the Boston Public Library and Museum of Fine Arts in the last two decades of his life.
Of course, he was renowned for his portraits, landscapes and figurative works in an impressionist style, but he wasn't satisfied with that. He was glad to have the opportunity to do murals, because he wanted to be remembered for more "serious" subjects. He chose biblical scenes for the murals.
I guess we never can tell what we'll be remembered for.