These four tracings are all preparatory studies for Leighton's ceiling paintings for the Music Room (or Greek Room) at 11th East 68th Street, New York, the house of American banker and collector, Henry Marquand. Leighton probably received the commission through the recommendation of Lawrence Alma-Tadema who had designed a set of furniture for the room.

Two of the tracings are studies for the muse Erato (left hand panel) and one is for Terpsichore (right hand panel). These depict nude figures but with an outline of their drapery drawn around them. The remaining tracing is a compositional study for the central panel which features the seated figure of Mnemosyne flanked by two standing figures.

All objects in this group