Study of Beech Trees

Drawing details

Title: Study of Beech Trees
Date: 1855
Media: Pencil and bodycolour on white paper
Dimensions: 35.6 x 27.9 cm
Location: Victoria and Albert Museum
Picture credit: By Courtesy of the Board of Trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Reference number: 761-1896
Inscriptions: Monographed, dated and inscribed upper right "the leaf of the beech sometimes grows in fours, / - two large + two small forming a cross / 18 FL 55" in pencil, in the artist's hand. Inscribed lower right "Fontainebleau"in pencil. Inscribed on mount "S

Interpretation

Leighton was living in Paris in 1855 in a studio at 21 rue Pigalle. This drawing was made nearby, in the grounds of the ChGteau de Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, built by Francis I (1494-1547).

Description

Upper two-thirds of sheet: view of a forest showing the ground and the trunks of nine beech trees. Upper right of sheet: sketch of a branch with leaves demonstrating the 'cross' formation of the leaves. Lower left of sheet: sketch of a twig with leaves. Most of the white bodycolour used has oxidized and turned black. 

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 R6, originally priced at ú4:4:0); 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

• Staley, Edgcumbe, 'Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A.', The Walter Scott Publishing Company, London, 1906, p.226