Study for 'Augusta, Lady Hoare': Composition

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Augusta, Lady Hoare': Composition
Date: c.1857
Media: Black and white chalk on white paper
Dimensions: 34.1 x 24.8 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0902
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower left "No.5 catalogue (portraits)" in brown ink. Inscribed lower left "g/g/-" in pencil. Inscribed lower right "Portrait" in pencil. Inscribed lower right corner "83" in pencil. Inscribed on reverse, centre "K60" encircled, in pencil,

Interpretation

Leighton would normally produce just one drawing for a portrait, which was then squared up, ready to be transferred onto the canvas. This is the only known drawing for this portrait and may have been made in Paris in 1858, where Leighton began work on the painting.

Description

Study for the composition of the painting 'Augusta, Lady Hoare' (c.1858, Stourhead, National Trust). 

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 (Fine Art Society reference number K60); purchased from the Fine Art Society ú2:2:0; presented to Leighton House Museum in c.1897 

Bibliography

• Anon., 'Catalogue of Drawings by the late Lord Leighton Preserved for the Nation', Leighton House Committee, 1897, of the Drawings Collection in the Archive Cat. No. 5 "Portraits"
• Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.152 (listed under catalogue number 44), plate 55