Studies after a Fresco by Andrea di Firenze

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Drawing details

Title: Studies after a Fresco by Andrea di Firenze
Date: 1853
Media: Pencil on white paper
Dimensions: 29.6 x 23.3 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0935
Inscriptions: Inscribed upper left "Simone Memmi / Cap. Spagn. St. M. Nov. Flor." in pencil, in the artist's hand. Inscribed upper centre "Male Headgear" in pencil, in the artist's hand. Inscribed centre "hood / slung over / shoulder" in pencil, in the artist's ha

Interpretation

These sketches are copied from the frescos in the Spanish chapel of the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Another study of them, made at the same time, is also in the collection at Leighton House Museum (reference number LHO/D/0932). Leighton has included an abbreviated inscription which reads "Simone Memmi / Cap. Spagn. St. M. Nov. Flor." "Simone Memmi" may refer to the two artists Simone Martini (c.1285-1344), and Lippo Memmi (c.1290-1347), who collaborated on the Annunciation altarpiece at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, which Leighton also copied. It would appear Leighton believed that these two artists were also responsible for the frescos. However, they are now known to be by Andrea di Bonaiuto (fl.1346; d. after 1379). "Cap. Spagn." is an abbreviation of Capella Spagnolo, Italian for 'Spanish Chapel', and "St. M. Nov. Flor." is an abbreviation for the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Leighton made these sketches whilst engaged in preparatory drawings for the paintings 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...' (c.1853-55, Royal Collection) and 'The Reconciliation of the Montagues and Capulets...' (c.1853-55, private collection). His notes describing the clothing indicate that this was an exercise in gathering information on 14th century Italian costume, as research for his paintings.

Description

Upper left of sheet: head and shoulders study for a male figure in the fresco 'The Church Militant and Triumphant' (1365-68) by Andrea di Firenze (Italian painter, c.1343-1377). 

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 Q69); collection of Leighton House Museum 

Bibliography

• Anon., 'Catalogue of Drawings by the late Lord Leighton Preserved for the Nation', Leighton House Committee, 1897, catalogue number 8 "Studies of Costumes"
• 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.192 catalogue number 293
• Staley, Edgcumbe, 'Lord Leighton of Stretto 

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 293 (exhibited in the glass studio)
• 19 September 2005 to 09 December 2005, 'The Leighton Drawings Project: A Preview', Leighton House Museum, London