Study for 'The Reconciliation of The Montagues and Capulets...': Head of Paris

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'The Reconciliation of The Montagues and Capulets...': Head of Paris
Date: 1854
Media: Pencil on white paper
Dimensions: 28.4 x 22.0 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0878
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower centre "John Scott Cowell" in pencil, possibly signed by Cowell. Inscribed lower right "(trying to look dead) / 18 FL 54 / Roma." in pencil, in the artist's hand. Inscribed lower right "9" encircled, in pencil. Inscribed on reverse, c

Interpretation

This drawing was almost certainly made at the same time as another study of John Scott Cowell, also at Leighton House Museum (reference number LHO/D/0879). It may have been used as a study for the head of Paris for the painting 'The Reconciliation of the Montagues and Capulets...', which would explain why Leighton posed Cowell "trying to look dead" (see inscription). The catalogue of the Leighton House collection of 1900 lists this drawing as being displayed on a "leather screen" in the main studio.

Description

Study of the head of Paris for the paintings 'The Reconciliation of the Montagues and Capulets...' (c.1853, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, U.S.A.). The figure has a beard and moustache. The pose is similar to the finished work, although in the painting the model is younger, has a more round and is clean shaven. 

Provenance

Collection of Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 

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.178 catalogue number 150 

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 150 (exhibited on leather screen in the large studio)