Study for 'And the sea gave up the dead which were in it': Female Figure

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'And the sea gave up the dead which were in it': Female Figure
Date: 1892
Media: Black and white chalk on brown paper
Dimensions: 37.0 x 23.0 cm
Location: National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
Picture credit: National Gallery of Ireland
Reference number: 3215

Interpretation

Walter Armstrong, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, travelled to London to select Leighton drawings from the Fine Art Society sale after Leighton's death in March or April 1897. He selected five drawings and purchased them for a total ú59 including a discount of ú2:19:0.

Description

Two similar half-length nude studies for the upper body of the female figure to the left of the central group of three figures in finished work. The study on the lower half of the sheet is slightly larger in scale. The only difference between this study and the one below it is that the one below it is larger in scale. 

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 ?); purchased from the Fine Art Society by Walter Armstrong, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, on behalf of the Gallery for ú?:?:0 in March or April of 1897 

Bibliography

• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.170
• Potterton, Homan (introduction), National Gallery of Ireland Illustrated Summary Catalogue of Drawings, Watercolours and Miniatures, National Gallery of Ireland Publications, 1983, illustrated p.473