Studies for 'Portions of the Interior of the Grand Mosque of Damascus': Architectural Details

Drawing details

Title: Studies for 'Portions of the Interior of the Grand Mosque of Damascus': Architectural Details
Date: c.1874
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 16.8 x 27.0 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 03/3968

Interpretation

Architecture was one of Leighton's great interests and throughout his life he visited buildings and made careful studies of the facades, or particular details which interested him, rather like a student studying to be an architect might do.

Description

Centre of sheet: study for architectural detail seen on a canopy at the top of a staircase in the painting 'Portions of the Interior of the Grand Mosque of Damascus' (c.1873-75, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston). Right of sheet: study for architectural detail seen over a doorway at the bottom of a staircase in the same painting. 

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); presented to the Royal Academy of Arts, London by Matthews and Orr in 1896