Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': Frontispiece

Drawing details

Title: Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': Frontispiece
Date: c.1862
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 14.7 x 9.4 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/1071
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "No - -" in pen and ink.

Interpretation

The scene shows two figures looking over the parapet of the Ponte Vecchio with a view of Florence behind. Hung from swags on the bridge is a banner with 'Romola / by / G Eliot' written in a scrawled hand. In May 1862 Leighton was commissioned by George Smith, publisher of the 'Cornhill Magazine', to produce 24 full-page illustrations for the fourteen issues of the magazine in which the novel was serialised, as well as an initial letter or vignette for each number. Leighton also produced a title page for a one volume illustrated edition in 1865 (published by Smith Elder). Eliot had not finished the novel when the serial publication began, so Leighton worked from sections forwarded by the author in advance. Initially, the artist was unhappy with the quality of the prints but according to George Smith, when Leighton 'became more accustomed to drawing on wood...the other engravings gave him satisfaction'. Judging from these tracings, Leighton employed the same meticulous method when producing illustrations as he did for his large-scale oil paintings.

Description

Traced study for the composition of the illustration for the frontispiece for 'Romola' (1862-63). 

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