Study for 'Widow's Prayer': Composition

• enlarge drawing

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Widow's Prayer': Composition
Date: c.1864-65
Media: Black and white chalk on blue paper
Dimensions: 23.9 x 22.4 cm
Location: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Picture credit: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Reference number: WA1935.140
Inscriptions: Inscribed, lower centre "In St. Mark's Venice" in pencil. Stamped lower left "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed lower right "25 1/2 / 24" in black chalk, possibly in the artist's hand. Inscribed, upper right "8 8h" in black chalk. Inscribed on

Interpretation

This drawing is mounted in a double mount above another study for the painting 'Widow's Prayer' (c.1864-65, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham) at the Ashmolean Museum (reference number WA1935.141). There are pin holes in the corners of this drawing, and several in the centre of the left edge, perhaps indicating that Leighton pinned this drawing up whilst working from it.

Description

Study for the composition of the painting 'Widow's Prayer' (c.1864-65, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham). 

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 (Fine Art Society reference number A96); purchased by the Ashmolean Museum in 1935