Study for the Ceiling of the Marquand Music Room

ca. 1886

Not on view

This is a study for the seven-by-twenty-foot ceiling decoration that Leighton painted for the music room in the New York mansion of magnate Henry Marquand. At center is Mnemosyne, the ancient Greek goddess of memory and mother of the muses, the goddesses of creativity. Flanking her are the muse of tragedy and the muse of comedy and idyllic poetry, with embodiments of musical inspiration overhead. The side panels represent the poetry of love and revelry. Leighton depicted the figures with firm outlines against a gold background in order to evoke ancient mosaics. His final canvases were later cut into single-figure works, and this study is the only record of the ceiling ensemble in its entirety.

Artwork Details

Title: Study for the Ceiling of the Marquand Music Room
Artist: Frederic, Lord Leighton (British, Scarborough 1830–1896 London)
Date: ca. 1886
Medium: Oil and gold on canvas
Dimensions: Central canvas 12 x 17 in. (30.5 x 43.2 cm); side canvases each, 12 x 7 in. (30.5 x 17.8 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Bequest of James David Draper, from the Robert Isaacson Collection, 2019
Object Number: 2021.10.2
Curatorial Department: European Paintings

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The Sluggard, Frederic, Lord Leighton British, Bronze, dark olive brown patina, British, London — The Sluggard
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Samson Carrying the Gates, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery", Frederic, Lord Leighton British, Wood engraving on India paper, mounted on thin card — Samson Carrying the Gates, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"
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The Spies Escape, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery", Frederic, Lord Leighton British, Wood engraving on India paper, mounted on thin card — The Spies Escape, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"
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Samson at the Mill, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery", Frederic, Lord Leighton British, Wood engraving on India paper, mounted on thin card — Samson at the Mill, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"
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