Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Drapery for Female Figure

• enlarge drawing

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Drapery for Female Figure
Date: c.1854
Media: Black chalk and white bodycolour on white paper
Dimensions: 47.5 x 33.8 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0831 verso
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower centre "Early Study" in pencil. Inscribed centre right "border [illegible] & [illegible] upper" in pencil, in the artist's hand. Inscribed on reverse, lower right "N22" encircled, in pencil.

Interpretation

Early in his career Leighton made full use of the paper, putting this detailed drapery study on the reverse of another detailed drawing for the same painting.

Description

Full-length drapery study for the female figure in green to the left of the painting 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...' (c.1853-55, Royal Collection). The head and hands are not indicated. 

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; purchased from the Fine Art Society by Mrs. Emilie Isabel (Russell) Barrington (author and painter, 1844-1933) for ú5:5:0; presented to Leighton House Museum by Barrington in c.1897 

Bibliography

• Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.168 (listed under catalogue number 313) 

Exhibition history

• 1969, 'Display of Drawings and Paintings in the Winter Studio and Perrin Gallery', Leighton House Museum, catalogue number 6

Reproductions

Cockerell, Samuel Pepys (Foreward), 'Catalogue of a Collection of Studies for Pictures, Designs and Sketches by the Late Lord Leighton, P.R.A.', The Fine Art Society, London, 1896, p.17 catalogue number 25; Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.150 (listed under catalogue number 23)