Study for 'Captive Andromache': Andromache, Drapery

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Captive Andromache': Andromache, Drapery
Date: c.1888
Media: Black and white chalk on brown paper
Dimensions: 51.7 x 34.0 cm
Location: MusTe du Louvre, Paris
Picture credit: Courtesy of The Guildhall Library (illustrated from Spielmann, M. H., 'The Royal Academy Exhibition', The Magazine of Art, 1889, p.204)
Reference number: RF 39663
Inscriptions: Inscribed on reverse "39663".

Interpretation

This drawing was illustrated twice during Leighton's lifetime for 'The Magazine of Art'. The first time was in 1889 (the year the painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts), for an article on drapery. The entire article was illustrated with Leighton's drawings for 'Captive Andromache' as author, Annie Williams, explained: "the drawings of no living artist could better illustrate the subject than those of the great English master of drapery." In December 1893, it was reported in 'The Times' that this and one other Leighton drawing were now in the collection of the 'Luxembourg Gallery'. The MusTe du Luxembourg later closed and the Leighton drawings were eventually transferred to the Louvre in Paris. [see: 'The Times', Saturday, 30 December 1893, p.5, issue 34148, column C; 'The Magazine of Art', Cassell, London, 1889, p.61]

Description

Left of sheet: full-length draped study for the standing figure of Andromache in the centre of the painting 'Captive Andromache' (1888, Manchester Art Gallery). Upper right of sheet: study of drapery. Centre right of sheet: smaller, full-length draped study for the standing figure of Andromache. 

Provenance

Presented to the MusTe du Luxembourg by the artist on 6 March 1893; MusTe du Jeu de Paume; transferred to the MusTe National d'Art Moderne in 1977; transferred to the MusTe du Louvre, Paris 

Bibliography

• 'The Magazine of Art', Cassell, London, 1889, illustrated on p.62
• 'The Magazine of Art', Cassell, London, 1896, illustrated on p.204
• 'The Times', Saturday, 30 December 1893, p.5, issue 34148, column C 

Exhibition history

• 1977, 'De Burne-Jones a Bonnard. Dessins provenant du MusTe National d'Art Moderne', Paris, Louvre, Cabinet des Dessins, catalogue number 58