Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Female Head

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Female Head
Date: 1853
Media: Pencil on tracing paper laid on card
Dimensions: 22.1 x 18.1 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0956
Inscriptions: Monographed lower left maybe"FL" in pencil. Inscribed lower left "Firenze / (dal Vero)" in pencil, in the artist's hand. Monographed and dated lower left "18 FL 53" in pencil. Stamped lower left corner "LLC" encircled, embossed.

Interpretation

The inscription is probably short for 'by Veronese'.

Description

Study for the head of the female figure in a green striped dress, to the left of the painting 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...' (c.1853-55, Royal Collection). Unlike the finished painting, the figure wears a headdress and a string of pearls is seen around the neck. 

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 ?); purchased from the Fine Art Society by the Leighton Fund by ?; presented to Leighton House Museum in ? 

Bibliography

• Anon., 'Catalogue of Drawings by the late Lord Leighton Preserved for the Nation', Leighton House Committee, 1897, catalogue number 15 "Studies of Heads"
• 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.165 catalogue number 39 

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 39 (exhibited in the silk room)