Study for an Illustration for 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery': 'Death of the First Born'

Drawing details

Title: Study for an Illustration for 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery': 'Death of the First Born'
Date: 1863-64
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 15.9 x 17.7 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/1090
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "No 61 a" in pen and ink.

Interpretation

The scene depicts the young man collapsing with his hand held to his stomach, supported by another figure and treated by an old man holding a sponge, while the rest of his family grieve. In the background, the figure of death holding a sword can be seen flying through the sky. In the early 1860s both Joseph Cundall and the Dalziel brothers were planning to publish sets of illustrations to the Bible. Leighton began designs for Joseph Cundall c.1862-63 but this project was never realised. He produced nine biblical illustrations for the Dalziels from 1863-64. Letters survive between Leighton and the Dalziels, dated 1862, concerning which passages the artist intended to illustrate. The illustrated bible never materialised but in 1881 the 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery', including these illustrations, was published.

Description

Traced study for the composition of the main illustration 'Death of the First Born', for 'Dalziel's Bible Gallery' (published 1880-81). 

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