Four Musical Putti (in Sketch Book With Drawings on Twenty-six Leaves)

Art Historical Context

In the mid-19th century, a young Frederic, Lord Leightonlater renowned as a leading Victorian artist and President of the Royal Academy— this delicate graphite sketch around 1849. Titled *Four Musical Putti*, appears in a sketchbook containing drawings on twenty-six leaves, Leighton's early mastery during his formative years studying abroad in Europe. At just 19, he was absorbing influences from Renaissance and classical art, evident in these playful cherubic figures, or putti, frolicking with violins and other musical instruments. Rendered in graphite on a modest sheet measuring 7 7/8 x 10 7/8 inches, the drawing showcases Leighton's precise line work and subtle shading techniques. Graphite, a versatile medium favored by draftsmen of the era, allowed for fluid, expressive studies like these—ideal for sketchbooks used to explore poses, anatomy, and themes of joy and harmony. The putti, joyful childlike attendants from classical mythology, evoke the whimsical spirit of Baroque masters like Rubens, blending Leighton's emerging neoclassical style with Victorian romanticism. Acquired through the Fletcher Fund in 1942 and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece offers a rare glimpse into Leighton's preparatory process. It highlights how such intimate sketches laid the groundwork for his grand paintings, reminding us of the artist's lifelong passion for beauty, music, and the human form.

About the Artist

Frederic, Lord Leighton · 1830–1896

Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton (1830–1896), was born on 3 December 1830 in Scarborough, England, to a prosperous medical family. His father, Dr. Frederic Septimus Leighton, and mother, Augusta Susan, provided him with financial security throughout his life, while his grandfather, Sir James Boniface Leighton, had served as physician to Russian tsars Alexander I and Nicholas I. After early ed...