Study for 'Lieder Ohne Worte': Hands, Female Head

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Lieder Ohne Worte': Hands, Female Head
Date: c.1859
Media: Black chalk heightened with white on blue paper
Dimensions: 39.2 x 26.4 cm
Location: The British Museum, London
Reference number: 1897,0512.16

Interpretation

The head of the figure in the foreground of the finished painting 'Lieder Ohne Worte' is more like Leighton's study of the head of John Hanson Walker (painter, 1843/4-1933) at Leighton House Museum (reference number LHO/D/0959), than the woman's head shown here and this study may be earlier than the Walker study. The corresponding head in the finished work is quite androgynous and may be influenced by both the studies. Although it has been suggested that the hands are Walker's, they could equally be those of the female model represented here. This is not the only example of Leighton combining studies of models of different ages or sexes to create a single figure in one of his paintings.

Description

Upper left of sheet: study of a left hand, hanging loosely from the wrist which is supported horizontally. Below this is a very similar study. These represent the left hand of the figure in the foreground of the painting 'Lieder Ohne Worte' (c.1860-61, Tate). Right of sheet: three studies, one below the other, of a right hand seen in profile with the wrist and fingers pointing down and to the left. The lower study is very faint. These represent the right hand, resting on the foot, of the character in the foreground of the painting. Lower left of sheet: faint study of a female head, inclined to the left, in a similar pose to the head of the main character in 'Lieder Ohne Worte', although further inclined. 

Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist to his sisters, Mrs. Augusta Matthews (nTe Augusta Neunburg Leighton, 1835-1919) and Mrs. Alexandra Orr (nTe Alexandra Leighton, 1828-1903); purchased by the Fine Art Society in 1896; purchased from the Fine Art Society by The British Museum, London in 1897 (with 30 others drawings for a total of ú300) 

Bibliography

• Morse, Belinda, 'John Hanson Walker: The Life and Times of a Victorian Artist', Alan Sutton Publishing, 1987, p.8-10, illustrated on p.9
• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.153 (listed under catalogue number 64)
• Staley, Edgcumbe, 'Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A.', The Walter Scott Publishing Co., London, 1906, p.225 

Exhibition history

• 1901, 'Exhibition of Drawings and Sketches', The British Museum, London, catalogue number B 253