The first exhibition devoted to landscape sketches made by Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896) to go on display, this autumn.
The first exhibition devoted to landscape sketches made by Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896) will go on display in his former home and studio, Leighton House, this autumn. The show offers an opportunity to see the celebrated Victorian artist in a totally new light – that of a spontaneous, experimental artist who took the road less well trodden by his contemporaries, documenting the people and places he encountered as he travelled.
Leighton and Landscape: Impressions from Nature will display over 60 of his en plein air paintings across the historic house. Many of the artworks will be returning to the artist’s house-museum for the first time in over 120 years, placing them back where they were originally displayed. A key exhibition highlight is the recently rediscovered landscape, Bay of Cádiz, Moonlight (1866), which has been acquired by the museum.
All the pictures on display were created between 1856 and his death in 1896, but despite his successful and influential career, this aspect of his work across 40 years was largely unknown in his lifetime and this remains the case today. Due in part because Leighton was an intensely private individual, choosing to live and travel alone. He scarcely ever exhibited the landscapes. Upon his death, he left no journals and his letters barely referred to his personal circumstances, making these landscape sketches additionally fascinating and precious, offering precious insights into moments in his life.
Seen together, the sketches demonstrate Leighton’s eye for intriguing views and surprising settings, where he generally avoided famous landmarks, instead seeking out a particular backstreet, hill, rock or tree that caught his attention. In doing so he was also capturing the moments where for him, the activity of painting was an intensely personal, private and reflective activity.
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to connect his art and travels throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa with his beautiful home, not least the stupendous Arab Hall - the tiles that adorn its walls were inspired by a trip to Damascus in 1873. The exhibition also affords visitors a chance to examine at first-hand how Leighton used different techniques while painting en plein air.
Leighton and Landscape. Impressions from Nature has been co-curated by Dr. Pola Durajska, who wrote her PhD thesis on Leighton’s landscape paintings.
Listings
Leighton and Landscape: Impressions from Nature
16 November 2024 – 27 April 2025. Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ
Included within admission ticket, from £14 (concessions available).
Further Information: Opens on 16 November: Leighton and Landscape | RBKC Museums