Leighton, Clare, 1898-1989

Scope and Contents:

Circular drawing with the final composition of the plate. The tool assembly in the foreground is drawn with particular detail and care. In the bottom right corner of the page, beneath the image, Leighton has jotted a fragmented note to herself about the Whaling Museum and ship building. At the bottom left hand is a graphite sketch labeled "bond hook."

Scope and Contents:

Unsigned final proof.

Scope and Contents:

Two harpoon heads, a knife and a whaling lance. The lance is labeled "lance" and next to it, Leighton has written what looks like "Cutting in Rock" (which is crossed out).

Scope and Contents: Whale vertebra, grapnel anchor and a bucket.Whale vertebra is almost certainly the one Leighton describes seeing on a beach, and which gave her the epiphany that allowed her to finish the composition (see under "Writings - Whaling"). It closely resembles the one she used in the final wood engraving.The grapnel anchor has a line running from it; it is labeled "grapnel" and "anchor warp" (the warp being the line that pulls the anchor).The bucket is attached...

Scope and Contents:

Sketch of whalers in a whaling boat, with a large toothy sperm whale behind them. To the right, squiggles to test the thickness of different graphite pencils.

Scope and Contents:

Large, detailed sketch of a bundle of sailing block and tackle.

Scope and Contents:

Ship in upper right-hand drawn in with graphite. Figures in boat seen as black silhouettes. Some holes in paper.

Numbered 1 in upper right corner.

Scope and Contents:

White space in upper right where ship will appear. Figures in boat only seen in black silhouette.

Numbered 2 in upper right corner.

Scope and Contents:

Ship in upper-right corner appears in almost full detail. Figures in boat seen in black silhouette.

Numbered 3 in upper right corner.

Scope and Contents:

Some bad creasing runs diagonal across lower half of image.

Numbered 4 in upper right corner.

Scope and Contents:

Men in boat still seen only in black silhouette. Small sketch of a ship in graphite in lower right corner of page, outside the image. Reddish stains on paper.

Numbered 5 in upper right corner.

Scope and Contents:

Figures in boat still printed as black silhouettes, but this is the first proof with details added to the figures in gouache. Small tear in the paper.

Numbered 6 in upper right corner.

Scope and Contents:

First proof with engraved details on the figures in the whaling boat.

Numbered 7 in upper right corner.

Scope and Contents:

Numbered 8 in upper right corner.