Study for 'The Last Watch of Hero': Composition

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'The Last Watch of Hero': Composition
Date: c.1886
Media: Pencil and black and white chalk on brown paper
Dimensions: 29.1 x 21.4 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0662
Inscriptions: Stamped lower left "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed lower right "Bane" or "same" in purple pencil crayon. Inscribed on reverse, centre "H70" encircled, in pencil.

Description

Study for the composition of the painting 'The Last Watch of Hero' (c.1887, Manchester Art Gallery). Hero pushes the curtain further to the right than in the finished work, and her left arm is completely straight. Also the pillar at the far right of the painting has not been drawn, but otherwise the composition is similar to that of the finished work. 

Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist to his sisters, Mrs. Augusta Matthews (n+e Augusta Neunburg Leighton, 1835-1919) and Mrs. Alexandra Orr (n+e Alexandra Leighton, 1828-1903); purchased by the Fine Art Society in 1896; collection of Leighton House Museum 

Bibliography

• Barrington, Mrs. Emilie Isabel, 'Catalogue: Lord Leighton's House and What it Contains', 1900, reprinted as part of 'A Collection of Essays on Lord Leighton and his Works with Illustrated Catalogue of the Contents of Leighton House', privately published, London, 1900-01, p.164 catalogue number 28b
• Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.169 (listed under catalogue number 330)
• Staley, Edgcumbe, 'Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A.', The Walter Scott Pub 

Exhibition history

• 09 April 1900 to at least 1936, 'The Leighton House Collection' (intended to be a permanent display), Leighton House Museum, London, catalogue number 28b (exhibited on the staircase)