Studies for 'Dante in Exile' and Illustrations to 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery': 'Eliezer and Rebekah', 'Death of the First Born'

Drawing details

Title: Studies for 'Dante in Exile' and Illustrations to 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery': 'Eliezer and Rebekah', 'Death of the First Born'
Date: 1863-64
Media: Black and white chalk on blue paper
Dimensions: 29.1 x 27.3 cm
Location: National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
Reference number: 4463
Inscriptions: Stamped, lower left "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed on reverse "C100" encircled, in pencil.

Description

At the lower left of the sheet is a study for the composition of the painting 'Dante in Exile'. There are also two studies for the compositions of illustrations for Dalziel's Bible Gallery, published in 1880-81. These are for 'Eliezer and Rebekah', upper centre of the sheet, and for 'Death of the First Born', centre of the sheet. 

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; collection of Mrs. Emilie Isabel (Russell) Barrington (author and painter, 1844-1933); sold by Sotheby's in London on 1 December 1937 (lot 21); one of 12 drawings purchased for ú6 by F. R. Meatyard (dealer, fl. 1937-1954), six of the drawings (including this one) were sold for ú3 plus 10% commission to the National Gallery of Canada, with Paul OppT (scholar and collector) acting as agent, in 1937. 

Bibliography

• Cockerell, Samuel Pepys (Foreward), 'Drawings and Studies by the Late Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A.', The Fine Art Society, 1898, plate X 

Exhibition history

• December 1896, 'The Studies in Black and White of the Late Lord Leighton, P.R.A.', Fine Art Society, London