View of a Courtyard, Bursa

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Drawing details

Artist: Formerly tentatively attributed to Leighton, Lord, Frederic (1830-1896), Baron of Stretton, P.R.A., painter and sculptor
Title: View of a Courtyard, Bursa
Media: Pencil and watercolour on white paper
Dimensions: 28.7 x 40.0 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Reference number: LHO/D/0442
Inscriptions: Inscribed lower right "Hofinner[es] Moschee in Brussa", which translates as "Inner courtyard mosque in Broussa" in brown ink, possibly in the artist's hand. Inscribed on reverse, lower right "S / M" in pencil.

Interpretation

This is part of a series of watercolour studies of landscapes and buildings in Turkey, Greece and Egypt. The attribution of these watercolour studies to Leighton has always been in question. The earliest catalogue of the collection at Leighton House Museum notes that they were "Sold as by Lord Leighton, but doubtful". [Barrington, Mrs. Russell, 'Lord Leighton's House, and What it Contains', 'Magazine of Art', 1899, p.194]

Description

View of a courtyard in Broussa, Turkey, with cloisters on either side, figures in Eastern dress, a monument to the left of the view and a staircase to the right. 

Provenance

Acquired by Leighton House Museum before 1926 

Bibliography

• Barrington, Mrs. Emilie Isabel, 'Catalogue: Lord Leighton's House and What it Contains', 1900, reprinted as part of 'A Collection of Essays on Lord Leighton and his Works with Illustrated Catalogue of the Contents of Leighton House', privately published, London, 1900-01, p.194 catalogue number 324
• Staley, Edgcumbe, 'Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A.', The Walter Scott Publishing Company, London, 1906, p.222 

Exhibition history

• 09 April 1900 to at least 1936, 'The Leighton House Collection' (intended to be a permanent display), Leighton House Museum, London, catalogue number 324 (exhibited on the screen in the glass studio)