Artwork
Colour study for 'Cymon and Iphigenia'
Colour study for 'Cymon and Iphigenia' is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Frederic Leighton. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
About this work
Overview
Frederic Leighton’s 1892 oil painting, a colour study for his larger composition ‘Cymon and Iphigenia,’ presents a mythological scene now in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The work functions as a preparatory study, focusing on the palette and atmospheric effects intended for the finished piece.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a reclining female figure, identified as Iphigenia, dressed in a flowing white garment. Adjacent to her stands a second, less detailed figure in a red robe, suggesting a narrative interaction between the two characters within a classical myth.
Technique & Style
Leighton employs a contrast of warm, luminous whites against cool blues of the distant landscape, while the red of the standing figure provides a visual counterpoint. The handling of folds and creases in the white dress conveys movement, and the outdoor setting is hinted at through softened trees and a water surface in the background.
History & Provenance
Created as a preparatory work for the larger ‘Cymon and Iphigenia,’ the study entered the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ holdings in the early 20th century, where it has remained part of the museum’s permanent collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton,, known as Sir Frederic Leighton between 1878 and 1896, was a British Victorian painter, draughtsman, and sculptor.
Lucia
David: "Oh, that I had wings like a Dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest." Psalm 55:6
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