Studies of Male and Female Figures

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Drawing details

Title: Studies of Male and Female Figures
Date: 1857
Media: Pencil on white paper
Dimensions: 27.2 x 20.3 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0974
Inscriptions: Inscribed, monographed and dated, centre left, "Algiers / 5 FL 7" in pencil. Inscribed lower right "Studies in Algiers" in pencil, partially erased. Inscribed lower left "[illegible]" in pencil, inscription cut off at lower edge. Stamped lower left "

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/0972-3 and LHO/D/0976-7), and one similar study at the Victoria and Albert Museum (reference number 764-1896).

Description

Upper left of sheet: full-length faint study of a seated male figure facing the viewer. The figure appears to be sitting on the ground with crossed legs. Upper centre of sheet: full-length faint study of a seated male figure facing to the left. The right leg is crossed over the left. Upper right of sheet: full-length faint study of a seated figure. The figure appears to be sitting on the ground with crossed legs. Centre of sheet: full-length study of seated female figure facing the viewer. The head is turned to the right and the chin rests on the left hand. The figure appears to be elderly. Centre right of sheet: full-length study of seated female figure facing the viewer. The hands hold fabric at chest height. The hands, arms and lower part of the face are covered by fabric. Part of the background architecture is also indicated. Lower left of sheet: full-length faint study of a seated figure facing to the right. The head is turned towards the viewer. All the figures are in traditional 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 P77); purchased from the Fine Art Society for ú2.2.0 by Mr. Walter Derham; presented to Leighton House Museum by Derham in c.1897