Studies of Male and Female Figures, Female Head, Male Hands, Male Feet

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Drawing details

Title: Studies of Male and Female Figures, Female Head, Male Hands, Male Feet
Date: 1856-77
Media: Black and white chalk on blue paper
Dimensions: 32.1 x 32.2 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0767
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "Project" in pencil. Inscribed lower left "7/75" in pencil. Stamped lower left "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed on reverse of backing board, centre "517" encircled, in blue biro, crossed out in blue biro.

Interpretation

Although the pose of the female nude at the lower left of this sheet is similar to the painting 'At the Fountain' (c.1892, Milkwaukee Art Museum, U.S.A. ), this blue paper was used by Leighton up until c.1877. It is therefore unlikely to be a study for the painting, however Leighton may have later referred back to this drawing and been inspired by it. The draped male figure in the centre of the painting also appears in other Leighton studies and is probably related to Leighton's design for an illustration of 'Cain and Abel' for the 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery' (published 1880-81) which Leighton worked on between 1863 and 64.

Description

 

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