Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'Coming Home'

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Drawing details

Title: Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'Coming Home'
Date: c.1862
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 16.4 x 10.5 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/1032
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "No 82" in pen and ink.

Interpretation

This scene shows the character Romola at the door of her house welcoming Tito on his return home. This scene was engraved by Joseph Swain and was published in volume 6 (opposite p.726) of the 'Cornhill Magazine'.

Description

Traced study for the composition of the illustration 'Coming Home', Chapter XXVII, Book II ('The Young Wife'), for 'Romola' (first published in parts in the 'Cornhill Magazine' July 1862 to August 1863). This tracing, although reversed, is almost identical to the finished illustration. 

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