Studies for 'Music', 'Syracusan Bride' and 'A Contrast': Male Figure with a Lute, Female Figure with an Arrow, Male Figure

Drawing details

Title: Studies for 'Music', 'Syracusan Bride' and 'A Contrast': Male Figure with a Lute, Female Figure with an Arrow, Male Figure
Media: Black and white chalk on blue paper
Dimensions: 30.4 x 44.6 cm
Location: The British Museum, London
Picture credit: The Trustees of The British Museum, London
Reference number: 1897,1221.1

Description

Left of sheet: full-length study for the male figure playing a lute in the painting 'Music' (c.1865, private collection). He is shown with one foot resting on a step or footstool, rather than the capital seen in the finished work. The lute is also drawn in. Upper centre of sheet: full-length study of a young woman drawing an arrow. Possibly a study for a depiction of Diana the Huntress. Lower centre of sheet: study for the bearded man to the lower left of the painting 'Syracusan Bride' (1865-66, private collection). Right of sheet: full-length nude study for a bearded male figure facing the viewer and stepping forward and down with a scarf or strip of material wrapped between his hands and falling over the right shoulder. The position of the legs of this figure are similar to those of the figure on the right of the illustration 'Cain and Abel', for 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery'. Upper right of sheet: study for the left hand of the male figure playing a lute for the painting 'Music'. Far centre right of sheet: study for the right arm and drapery over the shoulder of the same figure. 

Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist to his sisters, Mrs. Augusta Matthews (nTe Augusta Neunburg Leighton, 1835-1919) and Mrs. Alexandra Orr (nTe Alexandra Leighton, 1828-1903); purchased by the Fine Art Society in 1896; purchased from the Fine Art Society by The British Museum, London in 1897 (with 30 others drawings for a total of ú300) 

Bibliography

• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.156 (listed under catalogue number 120 and 121) 

Exhibition history

• 1901, 'Exhibition of Drawings and Sketches', The British Museum, London, catalogue number B 255