Study for 'Venus and Cupid': Architectural Detail

• enlarge drawing

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Venus and Cupid': Architectural Detail
Date: 1856
Media: Watercolour and pencil on white paper
Dimensions: 30.6 x 10.8 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0873
Inscriptions: Monographed and dated, upper right "18 FL 56" in pencil. Stamped lower left corner "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed on reverse, centre "463" in red biro, crossed out in blue biro. Inscribed on reverse, centre "O56" encircled, in pencil, writt

Interpretation

This may be a copy of a architectural decorative feature Leighton saw at some time on his travels.

Description

Study for the narrow, vertical, decorative panel of sculpted relief, including stylised foliage and birds, seen on a column to the right of the painting 'Venus and Cupid' (c.1856, private collection). 

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