Four studies of a reclining draped female figure by Frederic, Lord Leighton, PRA RWS 1830-1896

Four studies of a reclining draped female figure

Frederic, Lord Leighton, PRA RWS 1830-1896

Black and white chalks on blue paper

10 7/8 x 8 1/2 inches, 27.6 x 21.6 cm

The lower of the four studies has the figure seen from her left-hand side and foreshortened, the other three studies with the figure's left side seen square-on, all four studies show the figure with her left arm raised above her head; for a drawing related to the painting Cymon and Iphiginia

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Commentary by Hilary Morgan

Cymon and Iphignia (Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1884, number 278 (Ormond and Ormond, 1975). Leighton made many figure studies for this work and experimented with various for the reclining figure of Iphignia. In the final version both her arms are placed above her head and her face and body is turned to her right-hand side. The present drawing represents an earlier idea for the figure of lphignia which Leighton then abandoned. Photographs exist of drawings by Leighton in which the two alternative poses for the figure are shown side by side. The subject shows how the uncultured shepherd Cymon was awakened to new awareness by the beauty of the sleeping Iphiginia. Because the subject emphasised the transforming power of beauty, the painting was central among Leighton's later works.

References

Morgan, Hilary, and Peter Nahum. Burne-Jones, the Pre-Raphaelites, and Their Century. London: Peter Nahum, 1989. Catalogue number 104.

Ormond Richard and Ormond, Leonee. Lord Leighton. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1975. Catalogue number 313.

Last modified 2001