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| Edmund Blair Leighton Study for In Time of Peril 5 ⅛ X 6 ⅜ in. oil on panel |
The upcoming sale of Victorian & British Impressionist Art is not one of Christie's more interesting offerings. In the recent past, there has usually been one or two really outstanding pieces which have anchored the sale, but this time, such standouts are absent. This is not to say that this auction is without its charms; there are some nice landscapes by Edward Seago and the senior Alfred de Bréanski available, as well as a nice impressionist work by Harold Harvey among the lots. But to me, the most interesting work up for bid is the "Study for In Time of Peril," by Edmund Blair Leighton (1852-1922). It's a small sketch, only 5 ⅛ X 6 ⅜ inches in size, and not expected to fetch more than $2,000 USD, but its real value is likely to be found more among artists than collectors. Blair Leighton's sketch, when compared to the finished work, offers valuable insight into his processes, and in his decision-making, including the changes he made in composition through tonal manipulation.
Christie's sale of of Victorian & British Impressionist Art will take place at 2:00 PM in London on March 12, 2014. All 121 lots in the sale will be on view in South Kensington beginning March 8th. For more information, and to see the sale catalog online, please visit the Christie's website.
Viewing Times
March 8 | 11am - 5pm
March 9 | 11am - 5pm
March 10 | 9am - 7:30pm
March 11 | 9am - 5pm
March 12 | 9am - 12pm
Edmund Blair Leighton's finished work, In Time of Peril (1897), is located in New Zealand at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Fortunately, for those of us not living in New Zealand, the gallery has been digitized by the Google Art Project, which enable viewers to see In Time of Peril in great detail.
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| Edmund Blair Leighton In Time of Peril oil on canvas 49 X 66 ½ in. |