Study for 'Greek Girl Dancing': Composition

Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Greek Girl Dancing': Composition
Date: c.1866
Media: Pencil with pen and ink on brown paper
Dimensions: 14.9 x 19.7 cm
Location: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Picture credit: Royal Academy of Arts, London
Reference number: 04/1126
Inscriptions: Inscribed centre left "V.D. 1'.9" " in pen and ink, in the artist's hand. Inscribed lower right "no 107" in pencil.

Interpretation

The main purpose of this tracing was to help the artist work out the perspective of the composition. Leighton drew over the tracing in pen and black ink, confirming the angle of the corner seat, and the relative heights and positions of the three seated figures. Another study in the collection at Leighton House Museum shows the artist establishing lines of perspective for the painting 'Winding the Skein (reference number LHO/D/0583).

Description

Traced study for the composition of the painting 'Greek Girl Dancing' (c.1867, private collection). The seat is drawn over in pen. The drawing is dissected by at least six faint diagonal lines, used to work out composition and placement of figures. The tracing 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.157 (listed under catalogue number 127)