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Frederic
Leighton (1830-1896), 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 was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire to a medical
family. His father was a doctor, and his grandfather had been
the primary physician to the 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’.
Leighton did succeed in becoming ‘eminent in art’ with Queen
Victoria buying his first major painting in 1855 and in 1878
he reached the pinnacle of his profession, becoming the
President of the Royal Academy of Arts. His abilities as an
exceptionally able and dedicated administrator of Academy's
affairs were universally well regarded. He was widely
consulted on matters relating to the art and the culture of
his time and he lobbied hard for causes that he believed would
further the nations appreciation and enjoyment of art in all
its forms. But Leighton remains an enigmatic figure. His
private life was closely guarded. He lived alone and travelled
alone; some found it hard to penetrate his polished social
manner and wondered if they ever really knew him.
Leighton never married and rumours of him having a child with
one of his models, in addition to the supposition that
Leighton may have been homosexual, continue to be debated
today. Leighton left no diaries and his letters are telling in
their lack of reference to his personal circumstances. No
definite primary evidence has yet come to light that
effectively dispels the secrecy that Leighton built up around
himself. Just before his death from heart failure in 1896, he
was ennobled, becoming Frederic, Lord Leighton, Baron of
Stretton. He is the only British artist to have been awarded
this honour and is buried in St Paul’s Cathedral.
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