Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Male Child, Hands

Drawing
Description
Further information

Image of drawing unavailable.

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Male Child, Hands
Date: c.1854
Media: Pencil and bodycolour on paper
Dimensions: 42.6 x 27.0 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/661
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower left "18" encircled, in pencil. Labelled on mount "Study of a nude boy for the "Cimabue", and two studies / of hands. Black chalk on brown paper" ink (printed).

Description

A nude study of a male child, seen from the back, for the figure carrying a basket of flowers on the right hand side of 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...' (c.1853-55, Royal Collection). There are also two studies for the child's hands on this sheet, one showing his left hand holding the flat basket or plate and the other showing his right hand scattering flowers. The white, painted highlights have oxidised and now appear black. On the verso is a faint study for a composition showing a figure on horseback and a standing female figure.

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

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Related Paintings/Projects

'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna is Carried in Procession through the Streets of Florence; in front of the Madonna, and crowned with laurels, walks Cimabue himself, with his pupil Giotto; behind it Arnolfo Di Lapo, Gaddo Gaddi, Andrea Tafi, Niccola Pisa
view painting/project