Study for 'Tragic Poetess': Composition

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Tragic Poetess': Composition
Date: c.1889
Media: Pencil on tracing paper
Dimensions: 24.2 x 13.1 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/711
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower centre "Tragic Poetess / 1890" in pencil. Inscribed lower right "No. 8 5 x 9" in pencil. The tracing is also squared up and numbered 1-12 from top to bottom and 1-6 from left to right.

Description

Traced study for the composition of the painting 'Tragic Poetess' (c.1890, private collection). The pose of the figure here is very close to the seated poetess in the finished oil painting, however this tracing does not include the box of scrolls on the left. The drawing is squared up. 

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

• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.170 (listed under catalogue number 352)