Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'Tessa at Home'

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Drawing details

Title: Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'Tessa at Home'
Date: c.1862
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 11.0 x 15.4 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/981
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "No 60a" in pencil.

Interpretation

This scene depicts the character Tessa asleep at home as she is found by Romola. Both are married to Tito, unaware of the other's existence. The illustration 'Tessa at Home' was engraved by Joseph Swain and published in Volume 7 (opposite p.565) of the 'Cornhill Magazine'.

Description

Traced study for the composition of 'Tessa at Home', an illustration for Chapter XXIV, Book III ('The Other Wife') for 'Romola' (first published in parts in the 'Cornhill Magazine' July 1862 to August 1863). Apart from being reversed this drawing is very similar in composition to the finished illustration although it omits a number of decorative details such as the objects in the niche above the cradle. 

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