Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'Under the Plane Tree'

Drawing details

Title: Study for an Illustration for 'Romola': 'Under the Plane Tree'
Date: c.1862
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 16.2 x 10.3 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/931
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "No. 80" in pen and ink.

Interpretation

This tracing shows the scene in which Tito falls asleep while sitting under a plane tree with Tessa. Leighton illustrated this particular scene on the suggestion of George Eliot herself. In a letter to Leighton she wrote; 'In a day or two you will have the second part, and I think you will find there a scene for Tessa "under the plane tree"' (see Barrington, Mrs. Russell, 'The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic, Lord Leighton', George Allen, London, 1906, volume II, p.97). The scene was engraved by W. J. Linton and published in the 'Cornhill Magazine' (volume 6, opposite p.184).

Description

Traced study for the illustration 'Under the Plane Tree', Chapter X, Book I, for 'Romola' (1862-63). This tracing is reversed but otherwise the composition is identical to that 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 

Bibliography

• Barrington, Mrs. Russell, 'The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic, Lord Leighton', George Allen, London, 1906, volume II, p97 [transcripts of Eliot's letters to Leighton]