Portrait of John Hanson Walker

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Drawing details

Title: Portrait of John Hanson Walker
Date: 1860
Media: Pencil on white paper
Dimensions: 17.3 x 14.0 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0959
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower left "L60 / Bath" in pencil, in the artist's hand.

Interpretation

This is a portrait of John Hanson Walker, a pupil of Leighton's. It was used as a study for the central figure in the painting 'Lieder Ohne Worte' (c.1860, Tate). Leighton also used a female model for this figure. Like his hero Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian painter, 1475-1564), it was not uncommon for Leighton to use a female model for a male figure, or vice versa. This study was made in 1860 in Bath. Leighton's parents lived in Bath at this time.

Description

Study of the head of John Hanson Walker (painter, 1844-1933) as a child, facing the viewer. The head is inclined slightly to the left and the eyes look down. The hair is short and slightly wavy. The neck and part of a collar of a shirt or jacket are also indicated. 

 

Bibliography

• Barrington, Mrs. Russell, 'The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic, Lord Leighton', George Allen, London, 1906, volume I, illustrated opposite p.251
• Barrington, Mrs. Emilie Isabel (preface), '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.149, p.165 catalogue number 36c
• Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord