A Boy Saving a Baby from the Clutches of an Eagle
This work was executed by Leighton when he was around twenty years old and studying at the Städelesches Kunstinstitut in Frankfurt, under the tutelage of Edward von Steinle. Steinle was part of the Nazarene Movement, a group of German painters who sought to recover the spirit of Renaissance artists such as Raphael and produce unpretentious artworks which were true to nature. Their influence can clearly be seen in this painting. The source for the subject of A Boy saving a baby from the clutches of an Eagle, is something of a mystery, but may refer to an oil painting by Rembrandt titled The Rape of Ganymede or possibly an incident from German literature.
c.1852
Oil on canvas
50.0 x 50.0cm
LH0364
Image and text © The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, 2020
Where you'll find this
Leighton House
Permanent collection