Study of a Female Figure with a Guitar

Drawing details

Title: Study of a Female Figure with a Guitar
Date: 1853
Media: Pencil on paper
Dimensions: 30.4 x 19.3 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/630
Inscriptions: Signed, dated and monographed, upper right "Teresa / Rome 18 FL 53" in pencil, in the artist's hand. Inscribed lower left "Early study" in pencil. Inscribed lower left "26" encircled, in pencil.

Interpretation

This drawing was made during the period when Leighton was living in Rome and working on the painting 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...' It may be an early study for the painting and relates to a similar study of a clothed model at the Royal Academy (reference number 04/641). Leighton has noted the Christian name of the Italian model, Teresa, on the drawing.

Description

Full-length nude study of a standing female figure, facing the viewer, playing a guitar. The weight rests on the right leg. The figure holds a guitar at waist height with the left hand and strums it with the the right hand. The head tilted slightly to the left. 

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