Frederic, Lord Leighton, 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna', 1853-5
About the work
Overview
Cimabue’s celebrated ‘Madonna’ is carried in procession through the streets of Florence; in front of the ‘Madonna’, and crowned with laurels, walks Cimabue with his pupil Giotto; behind are Arnolfo de Lapo, Gaddo Gaddi, Andrea Tafi, Nicola Pisano, Buffalmacco, Simone Memmi. In the right corner is Dante.
This was Leighton’s first major work, painted in Rome. It was shown at the Academy in 1855. It was an immediate success, and Queen Victoria bought it for 600 guineas on opening day. She recorded in her diary: ‘There was a very big picture by a man called Leighton. It is a beautiful painting, quite reminding one of a Paul Veronese, so bright and full of light. Albert was enchanted with it - so much so that he made me buy it.’
The subject is from Vasari’s account of how the ‘Rucellai Madonna’ was carried from the house of the 13th century painter Cimabue to the church of S. Maria Novella in Florence. Vasari also mentions Charles of Anjou, King of Naples, and Leighton has shown him on horseback on the right of the composition.
This painting is on loan from His Majesty The King
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna is carried in Procession through the Streets of Florence
- Artist
- Frederic, Lord Leighton
- Artist dates
- 1830 - 1896
- Date made
- 1853-5
- Medium and support
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 222 × 521 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed
- Acquisition credit
- On loan from His Majesty The King
- Inventory number
- L275
- Location
- Not on display
- Image copyright
- On loan from His Majesty The King, © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust
- Collection
- Main Collection
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
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