'The Death of Brunelleschi'

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Painting details

Title: 'The Death of Brunelleschi'
Date: 1852
Media: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 256.5 x 188 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Description

In the centre of the painting a seated male figure leans back in a chair, in profile, facing to the left. On his far side a standing male figure holds his right hand of Bruelleschi and supports his head as it tilts over the back of the chair. To the right a male figure with his hands clasped in prayer looks down at the central figure. A face can just be seen peering over his shoulder. Seated in front of the praying man is a girl, with her head turned to her right, to view the dying man. Sitting near the dying man's feet is a boy, who is using his right hand to reach for some flowers being brought to him by an even younger boy. A lean dog rests its head on the arm of the chair in which the dying man is placed. Behind the figures is classical architecture, an arch being held up by columns. Further beyond that is a view of Florence including the Duomo.

Provenance

Collection of Eduard Jakob von Steinle (German 'Nazarene' painter, 1810-1886); by descent to Dr. Alphons von Steinle; purchased by Leighton House Museum in 1909

Bibliography

• Jones, Stephen et al., 'Frederic Leighton', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1996, p.22, fig. 31
• Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, catalogue number 14, plate 23
• Robbins, Daniel and Suleman, Reena, 'Leighton House Museum: Holland Park Road, Kensington', The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, 2005, p.71 fig102
• 'The Times', Saturday 06 March 1909, p.17, issue 38900, column F

Exhibition history

• 1852, Frankfurt
• 1968, Leicester, catalogue number 21