'Greek Girls Picking up Pebbles by the Sea'

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Painting details

Title: 'Greek Girls Picking up Pebbles by the Sea'
Date: c.1871
Media: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 84.0 x 129.5 cm
Location: Private Collection
Picture credit: Courtesy of Leighton House Museum, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (illustrated from a photogravure)

Interpretation

The figure to the left of the composition appears to relate to the painting 'Atalanta and Hippomenes' by Guido Reni in the Prado, Madrid, which Leighton may well have seen.

Provenance

Collection of Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain P.C., M.P.; sold through Sotheby's, London (auctioneers) on 30 March 1994 ('Victorian Pictures'); private collection

Bibliography

• Barrington, Mrs. Russell, 'The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic, Lord Leighton', George Allen, London, 1906, volume II, p.385
• Jones, Stephen et al., 'Frederic Leighton', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1996, catalogue number 63. Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.160, catalogue number 198, plate 116

Exhibition history

• 1871, Royal Academy of Arts, London, catalogue number 567
• 1887, Manchester, catalogue number 430
• 1989, 'Victorian Dreamers', Japan, catalogue number 12