Studies of a Male Heads

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Drawing details

Title: Studies of a Male Heads
Date: 1857
Media: Pencil on white paper
Dimensions: 27.5 x 20.3 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0973
Inscriptions: Inscribed, monographed and dated lower left "Algiers / 5 FL 7" in pencil. Inscribed lower right "Studies in Algiers" in pencil. Stamped lower left "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed lower left corner "D6" in pencil. Inscribed on reverse, upper

Interpretation

This drawing was made during Leighton's visit to Algiers in the autumn of 1857. There are four similar drawings made on the same trip in the collection at Leighton House Museum (reference numbers LHO/D/0972, LHO/D/09724 and LHO/D/0976-7) and one similar study at the Victoria and Albert Museum (reference number 764-1896).

Description

Upper left of sheet: study of the head of a male figure, facing the viewer. The figure wears a turban and has a short beard and moustache. Upper centre of sheet: study of the head of an elderly male figure, facing the viewer. The figure wears a turban and has a short beard and moustache. The eyes look to the left. Upper right of sheet: full-length study of a seated figure, turned to the left. Centre left of sheet: study of a male head, in profile, facing to the left. The figure has a hooked nose and a short beard and moustache. Drapery covers the head and is wrapped under the chin. Below the study and to the right is a study of a male head turned to the right. The figure has a hooked nose and a short beard and moustache. Drapery falls from the head and is indicated under the chin. Centre right of sheet: study of a male head, turned to the left. The figure has a short beard and moustache. Drapery covers the head and is wrapped under the chin. Below this study and to the right are 3 three-quarter-length studies of figures with drapery covering the head and body. Lower left of sheet: study of a male head, turned to the right. To the lower right is a head and shoulders study of a figure, in profile, facing to the right. Drapery covers the head and is wrapped under the chin. Lower right of sheet: study of the head of a male figure, facing the viewer. The figure wears a turban and has a short beard and moustache. The eyes look to the left. To the right of this is a full-length study of a heavily draped figure with a hood. All the figures are in Algerian costume. 

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 Q3); purchased from the Fine Art Society for ú0.10.0 by Mr. Walter Derham; presented to Leighton House Museum by Derham in c.1897 

Bibliography

• 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, London, p.191 catalogue number 284 

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 284 (exhibited in the glass studio)