Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'But will you help me?'

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Drawing details

Title: Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'But will you help me?'
Date: c.1863
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 16.8 x 10.8 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/1009
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "No. 60" in pencil.

Interpretation

This scene shows the character Romola meeting Baldassare.

Description

Traced study for the composition of 'But you will help me?', an illustration to Chapter XXI, Book III ('On San Miniato') for 'Romola' (first published in parts in the 'Cornhill Magazine' July 1862 to August 1863). Apart from being reversed the tracing is very close to the composition of 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