👌 What a place to visit 🖼️ 🎨 🖌️
During my second visit to the stunning Leighton House, I have learnt some secrets that have been passed on by word of mouth only and do not make any logical sense about Frederic, Lord Leighton’s most famous painting, an iconic masterpiece, “Flaming June” that disappeared mysteriously.
The house itself is breathtakingly beautiful with a rich history, and the jewel-like colours, intricate tiles and extraordinary Arab Hall make every room feel completely immersive.
The entire visit was absolutely delightful.
A volunteer named David was very friendly and incredibly generous with his time, extremely knowledgeable about all the artwork and the history of the house. His charm, genuine enthusiasm and passion made an already wonderful visit feel even more distinctive.
2026 marks a significant milestone in the history of Leighton House, as they celebrate 100 years since it first opened as a public museum, under the governance of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
A true London gem. Highly recommended.
The Museum was his actual home.
Frederic, Lord Leighton was one of the most famous British artists of the Victorian age, establishing an international standing and reputation. His dedication to his art and the scope and ambition of his own painting won admiration and respect from his fellow artists. The recipient of many national and international awards and honours, he was well acquainted with members of the royal family and with most of the great artists, writers and politicians of the late Victorian era. His charm, handsome appearance, cosmopolitan background and generous nature allowed him to move in the highest social circles and forge friendships across the continent. Leighton became the figurehead for the newfound prestige and popularity of British art in the late Victorian period.
Leighton was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire to a medical family. His father was a doctor and his grandfather had been the primary physician to the Imperial Russian royal family in St. Petersburg, where he amassed a fortune. Leighton’s career was always cushioned by this family wealth; his father paying him an allowance throughout his life. Leighton’s parents were uncertain about his choice of career as he wrote in a letter of 1879, “My parents surrounded me with every facility to learn drawing, but strongly discountenanced the idea of my being an artist unless I could be eminent in art”.
For the sake of his mother’s health, Leighton’s family moved abroad when he was just eleven years old. He grew up fluent in four languages and was exposed to many of the great cities and art collections around Europe at a young age. After travelling in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, the family eventually settled in Frankfurt, Germany where Leighton enrolled at the art school, the Städelsches Kunstitut. There he came under the strong influence of his painting master Edward von Steinle. Leighton later said that von Steinle had left an “indelible seal” on both him as an artist and his work.
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