Oil sketch and preparatory drawings for Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna is carried in Procession through the Streets of Florence (1853-3) by Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896) Frederic, Lord Leighton’s much admired picture ‘Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna is Carried in Procession through the Streets of Florence’ captures in extraordinary detail the triumphant procession of Cimabue’s altarpiece through the streets of Florence in 1285, with crowds of local people, celebrated artists and visiting dignitaries in attendance. Leighton took inspiration both from his reading of Vasari’s ‘Lives of the Artists’ (1550) and from his numerous trips to Italy, a country he remained fascinated with throughout his life, to bring to life his imaginings of the celebrations. The pomp, majesty, pageantry and jubilation of the day sing from the canvas.
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