Bronze
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Henry Tate Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/frederic-lord-leighton-342" aria-label="More by Frederic, Lord Leighton" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Frederic, Lord Leighton</a>
Sluggard
Presented by Sir Henry Tate 1894
actions: postures and motions
adults
arm / arms raised
athlete
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
equestrian and sporting
laziness
male
man
nudes
objects
people
religious and ceremonial
standing
stretching
work and occupations
wreath
<p>Leighton struck a balance between the real and the ideal in this life-size bronze sculpture of a perfect male body. It is modern in the way it seizes on a momentary and languid pose, and yet artificial in the way the muscles are emphasised and all personal individuality suppressed. The Sluggard was made for exhibition at the Royal Academy. The fig leaf that hides the penis was a convention intended to neutralise any sexual appeal while the sculpture was on public display. Leighton made few sculptures, but like his paintings they were based on skill in drawing outlines.</p><p><em>Gallery label, February 2010</em></p>
sculpture bronze
16 June 2003 – 17 August 2003
2003-08-17
16 June 2003 – 17 August 2003
2003-08-17
2003-06-16
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2003-06-16
Bronze Sculpture
Collection based display
20 March 2009 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
20 March 2009 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
2009-03-20
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2009-03-20
New Sculpture
Collection based display
2 April 2011 – 17 June 2012
2012-06-17
12 September 2011 – 15 January 2012
2012-01-15
2011-09-12
Musée d’Orsay (Paris, France)
18 February 2012 – 17 June 2012
2012-06-17
2012-02-18
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum (San Francisco, USA)
http://www.famsf.org
2011-04-02
The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900
Loan-out
5 April 2017 – 1 October 2017
2017-10-01
5 April 2017 – 1 October 2017
2017-10-01
2017-04-05
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2017-04-05
Queer British Art
Exhibition
19 March 2018 – 7 October 2018
2018-10-07
19 March 2018 – 7 October 2018
2018-10-07
2018-03-19
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2018-03-19
Anthea Hamilton Duveens Commission
Collection based display
1 May 2025 – 1 August 2025
2025-08-01
1 May 2025 – 1 August 2025
2025-08-01
2025-05-01
Wrightwood 659 (Chicago, USA)
2025-05-01
The First Homosexuals
Loan-out
The Sluggard
object: 1911 × 902 × 597 mm
Presented by <a href="/search?gid=999999962" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Sir Henry Tate</a> 1894
<p>Leighton struck a balance between the real and the ideal in this life-size bronze sculpture of a perfect male body. It is modern in the way it seizes on a momentary and languid pose, and yet artificial in the way the muscles are emphasised and all personal individuality suppressed. The Sluggard was made for exhibition at the Royal Academy. The fig leaf that hides the penis was a convention intended to neutralise any sexual appeal while the sculpture was on public display. Leighton made few sculptures, but like his paintings they were based on skill in drawing outlines.
<br/></p>

Display caption
2010-02-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
actions: postures and motions adults arm / arms raised athlete emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas equestrian and sporting laziness male man nudes objects people religious and ceremonial standing stretching work and occupations wreath