The first exhibition devoted to plein air landscape sketches made by Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830–1896) is now being held in his former home and studio in London, Leighton House. Co-curated by Hannah Lund and Pola Durajska, it presents the Victorian artist in a new light — as an experimental artist who documented the people and places he encountered as he traveled.
On view are 50 plein air paintings, some returning to the house for the first time in over 120 years. Leighton scarcely ever exhibited his landscapes, and his papers shed no light on why or how they were created. Together they offer intriguing views and settings, generally avoiding famous landmarks in favor of backstreets, hills, rocks, or trees that caught his attention. In this regard, the activity of painting was an intensely private, reflective activity for Leighton.
The earliest work dates to 1856 (made during a trip to Cervara, a town near Rome) and the latest to the year of Leighton’s death four decades later. He had been introduced to the format by his Italian friend Giovanni Costa. Leighton employed different-sized canvases, some no larger than a sheet of paper, though this did not prevent him from capturing huge subjects and vistas. Among his destinations were Italy, Spain, Greece, Syria, and Egypt.
At a Glance:
Leighton House, London
rbkc.gov.uk/museums
Through April 27, 2025
View more fine art gallery exhibitions here at FineArtConnoisseur.com.
