'Jubilee Medal'

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Painting details

Title: 'Jubilee Medal'
Date: 1887
Dimensions: x cm
Location: The Royal Collection, Windsor

Interpretation

The design for the 'Jubilee Medal', "executed for Her Majesty's Government" is explained by Leighton's biographer Alice Corkran: "It represents Empire enthroned in the centre, holding the sword of justice in her right hand, while about her are grouped emblematical figures representing Commerce, Agriculture, Industry, Science, Literature, and Art." [Corkran, Alice, 'Frederic Leighton', Methuen & Co., London, 1904, p.117]

Description

Left of medal: full-length nude female figure standing with her weight on her left leg and her right leg slightly bent. The left arm is bent and the left hand rests on the left collarbone. The right hand is raised and holds a branch or twig and at head height. The head is in profile, facing to the left with the hair tied up in a bun. The right arm is raised. Draped female figure turned to the right. Her short sleeved dress gathers and is tied at the waist. The head is not visible. The third standing female figure from the left stands with the weight resting on the left leg and the right leg slightly bent. The left elbow rests against the left hip and the hand is raised and holds a scroll. The right arm is obscured by the figure in front. The female figure on the far right of the design stands in profile facing to the left. The left hand rests the left hip and the right hand reaches forward and rests on a stick. All the figures are in classical dress.

Provenance

Presented to Queen Victoria; Royal Collection, Windsor

Bibliography

• Corkran, Alice, 'Frederic Leighton', Methuen and Co., London, 1904, p.117
• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.180
• Rhys, Ernest, 'Frederic Lord Leighton: Late President of the Royal Academy of Arts, An Illustrated Record of his Life and Work', George Bell and Sons, London, 1900, p.23, illustrated opposite p.22