Study for 'Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis': Drapery for Death

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis': Drapery for Death
Date: c.1870
Media: Black and white chalk on blue paper
Dimensions: 40.5 x 28.4 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0824
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower left "Drapery [illegible] Hercules wrestling / with death" in black chalk, written sideways. Stamped lower left "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed on reverse, centre "420" in blue biro, crossed out in blue biro, written sideways

Description

Drapery study for the figure representing death in the painting 'Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis' (c.1869, Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Tannenbaum, Toronto). The head, arms and parts of the legs are also very lightly sketched in. 

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.170 catalogue number 56b
• Gere, Charlotte, et al., 'A Victorian Master: Drawings by Frederic, Lord Leighton', Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, 2006, p.58 catalogue number 3.5 (illustrated)
• Ormond, Leon+e and Richard,  

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 56b (exhibited in the Silk Room)
• 08 November 2006 to 25 February 2007, 'A Victorian Master: Drawings by Frederic, Lord Leighton', Leighton House Museum, London, catalogue number 3.5

Reproductions

38208