Study for 'The Bracelet': Drapery and Chair

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'The Bracelet': Drapery and Chair
Date: c.1883-85
Media: Black and white chalk on brown paper
Dimensions: 40.0 x 33.8 cm
Location: The British Museum, London
Picture credit: The Trustees of The British Museum, London
Reference number: 1897,0512.39 verso

Interpretation

Leighton rarely felt it necessary to make studies of still life subjects, other than drapery studies like this one. The chair belonged to Leighton and can be seen in an engraving of the ante-chamber at the top of the stairs of his home in Holland Park Road [reproduced in 'The Magazine of Art', 1896, p.206]. It was also used in the painting 'Music' (c.1883-85, Leighton House Museum, London). The catalogue of the Collection at Leighton House Museum of 1899 includes a "photograph of a study of a chair and drapery". The photograph, which was probably of this drawing, was amongst the "unhung" studies resting on tables, etc. around the house. Sadly it has been missing since shortly after the house became a Museum. [Barrington, Mrs. Russell, 'Lord Leighton's House, and What it Contains', 'Magazine of Art', 1899, p.194 catalogue number 327]

Description

Study for the draped chair behind the female figure in the painting 'The Bracelet' (c.1894, private collection). 

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.167 (listed under catalogue number 309) 

Exhibition history

• 1901, 'Exhibition of Drawings and Sketches', The British Museum, London, catalogue number B 264