Studies for 'The Reconciliation...' and 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Hands

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Drawing details

Title: Studies for 'The Reconciliation...' and 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Hands
Date: 1854
Media: Pencil on paper
Dimensions: 21.5 x 15.0 cm
Location: Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
Picture credit: Art Gallery of South Australia
Reference number: 07D14
Inscriptions: Inscribed, signed and dated, upper right "Roma / 18 FL 54", in pencil. Stamped lower left "LLC", in black ink.

Interpretation

Although Leighton worked on these two painting simultaneously, this is a rare example of him making a study for each, on the same sheet. In later years, ideas for two or three paintings are frequently found on a single sheet.

Description

Upper half of sheet: study for the hands in the action of handshaking for the fathers of Romeo and Juliet, in the painting 'The Reconciliation...' (c.1853-55, private collection). Lower half of sheet: study for the left hand of the tambourine player, and part of the tambourine, seen to the left of the painting 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...' (c.1853-55, Royal Collection, Windsor). 

Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist to his sisters, Mrs. Augusta Matthews (nTe Augusta Neunburg Leighton, 1835-1919) and Mrs. Alexandra Orr (nTe Alexandra Leighton, 1828-1903); purchased by the Fine Art Society in 1896; purchased from the Fine Art Society by Marcus Bourne Huish (barrister, writer and art dealer, Director of the Fine Art Society, c.1843-1921); purchased by the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide 

Bibliography

• 'Drawings and Studies by the Late Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A.', The Fine Art Society, 1898, plate V
• Millas, Oliver, 'The Victorian Pictures in the Collection of HM The Queen', p.164, figure 59
• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.150 (listed under catalogue number 23)