Study for 'Captive Andromache': Composition

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Captive Andromache': Composition
Date: c.1887
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 19.9 x 41.4 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0663

Interpretation

This squared up tracing of the composition for the painting 'Captive Andromache' (c.1888, Manchester Art Gallery) is almost certainly traced from a drawing at Manchester Art Gallery (reference number 1981.52). It relates to many of the earlier studies for the painting on blue paper. Leighton seems to have abandoned this project after squaring up the tracing, normally the final stage before painting begins. He later altered the composition, adding some new figures and omitting others.

Description

Study for the composition of the painting 'Captive Andromache' (c.1888, Manchester Art Gallery). There are a number of differences between this composition and that of the finished work. The most important differences are the figure with a vessel on her head, to the right of the composition, not included in the finished work, and the large group of standing female figures to the left of the painting, which differ considerably from the finished work. The drawing is squared up. 

Provenance

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.163 catalogue number 21i
• Jones, Stephen, et al., 'Frederic Leighton (1830-1896)', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1996, p.65
• Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.169 (listed unde 

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 21i (exhibited on the staircase)
• 1969, 'Display of Drawings and Paintings in the Winter Studio and Perrin Gallery', Leighton House Museum, catalogue number 37