Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Hands

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...': Hands
Date: c.1854
Media: Pencil on white paper
Dimensions: 25.0 x 20.3 cm
Location: Victoria and Albert Museum
Picture credit: Courtesy of Leighton House Museum, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Baldry, Alfred Lys, 'Lord Leighton's Sketches', The Magazine of Art, 1896-97, p.72)
Reference number: 753-1896
Inscriptions: Monographed "FL" in pencil. Inscribed "Roma."in pencil in the artist's hand.

Interpretation

This drawing was illustrated in two parts in an articleon Leighton's drawings published in 'The Magazine of Art' in 1896.

Description

Study of three hands for the painting 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna...' (c.1853-55, Royal Collection) 

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); purchased by the Fine Art Society (Fine Art Society reference number M52?, originally priced at ú8:8:0); one of 55 drawings purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum from the Fine Art Society for a total of ú135:18:0 (including a 10% discount) in 1896 

Bibliography

• Baldry, Alfred Lys, 'Lord Leighton's Sketches', The Magazine of Art, 1896, illustrated on p.72
• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.150 (listed under catalogue number 23)
• 'Exhibition of Works by the Late Lord Leighton of Stretton President of the Royal Academy: Winter Exhibition', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1897, p.43 catalogue number 230
• Staley, Edgcumbe, 'Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A.', The Walter Scott Publishing Company, London, 1906, 

Exhibition history

• 04 January 1897 to 13 March 1897, 'Exhibition of Works by the Late Lord Leighton of Stretton President of the Royal Academy: Winter Exhibition', Royal Academy of Arts, London, catalogue number 230
• 06 November 2003 to 01 February 2004, 'The Canvas of Many Feet: Frederic Leighton in Rome, 1852-55', Leighton House Museum, London