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The life, letters and work of Frederic Leighton. Volume II
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About this book
The volume is a meticulously compiled biography and catalogue of Frederic Baron Leighton, the eminent Victorian painter and sculptor. Authored by Mrs Russell Barrington, it opens with a transcriber’s note preserving the original’s irregular hyphenation and spelling, followed by a series of illustrations and a detailed contents list that maps Leighton’s career from his first London studio (1859‑1863) through his presidency of the Royal Academy and his final years. The introductory essay, contributed by Sir William Richmond and Mr Walter Crane, offers a contemporary assessment of Leighton’s artistic philosophy, his relentless study of nature, and the balance he struck between erudition and spontaneity. The book’s structure, chronological chapters, exhaustive illustration captions, and footnote‑linked errata, provides a comprehensive reference for scholars and admirers of his work.
Written in the formal, reflective prose of early‑20th‑century art criticism, the text combines personal reminiscence with scholarly commentary. Its tone is reverent yet analytical, appealing to readers who appreciate detailed archival material, such as art historians, museum curators, and collectors of Victorian art. Those interested in the interplay of biography, letters, and visual documentation will find the volume a valuable, richly illustrated resource.
Who appears in The life, letters and work of Frederic Leighton. Volume II
- Frederic LeightonVictorian gentleman with wavy hair, trimmed beard, dark suit, pince‑nez glasses
- Sir William RichmondMiddle‑aged Victorian artist, sideburns, moustache, formal frock coat, top hat
- Walter CraneBearded Victorian illustrator, round face, waistcoat, cravat, thoughtful expression
The opening · free to read
Volume Ii
1. PORTRAIT OF LORD LEIGHTON (Photogravure) To face Dedication By G.F. WATTS.
2. HEAD OF YOUNG GIRL (Colour) To face page 1 A wedding gift to H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, who graciously gave permission for the painting to be reproduced in this book.
3. "EUCHARIS," 1863 (Colour) 9 By kind permission of Mrs. STEPHENSON CLARKE.
4. "A NOBLE LADY OF VENICE," 1866 (Photogravure) 10 By kind permission of Lord ARMSTRONG.
5. "GREEK GIRLS PICKING UP SHELLS BY THE SEASHORE," 1871 18 (Photogravure) By kind permission of the Rt. Hon. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.
6. PORTRAIT OF MRS. SUTHERLAND ORR, 1861 57
7. PENCIL SKETCH FOR "MICHAEL ANGELO NURSING HIS DYING SERVANT," 1862 93 Leighton House Collection.
8. ORIGINAL SKETCH FOR "SAMSON WRESTLING WITH THE LION" 94 Designed as an illustration for Dalziel's Bible. Leighton House Collection.
9. ORIGINAL DRAWING FOR THE GREAT GOD PAN, ILLUSTRATING MRS. BROWNING'S POEM, "MUSICAL INSTRUMENT" 102 In "_Cornhill Magazine_," July 1861. Leighton House Collection.
10. "AN EVENING IN A FRENCH COUNTRY HOUSE," ILLUSTRATING MRS. ADELAIDE SARTORIS' STORY, "A WEEK IN A FRENCH COUNTRY HOUSE," PUBLISHED IN THE Cornhill Magazine, 1867 103 By kind permission of Messrs. SMITH, ELDER, & CO.
11. "DRIFTING." SECOND ILLUSTRATION FOR SAME 104
12. LORD LEIGHTON 107 Photograph taken at Lyndhurst, 1863.
13. FRESCO FOR LYNDHURST CHURCH--"THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS," 1864 111
14. "GREEK GIRL DANCING," 1867 125 By kind permission of Mr. PHILLIPSON.
15. SKETCH FOR A "PASTORAL," 1866 125 Leighton House Collection.
16. SKETCH IN OILS--"EGYPT" (Colour) 131
17. "S. JEROME." DIPLOMA WORK, 1869 188 Gallery in Burlington House.
18. "ELECTRA AT THE TOMB OF AGAMEMNON" 189
19. "HERACLES WRESTLING WITH DEATH FOR THE BODY OF ALCESTIS," 1871 190 By kind permission of the FINE ART SOCIETY.
20. "SUMMER MOON," 1872 193 By kind permission of Messrs. P. & D. COLNAGHI.
21. "A CONDOTTIERE," 1872 193 The Walker Fine Art Gallery, Birmingham.
22. STUDY FOR FIGURE IN FRIEZE, "MUSIC," 1886 193 Leighton House Collection.
23. STUDY OF MAN'S FIGURE FOR THE "ARTS OF WAR," 1872 193 Leighton House Collection.
24. STUDY OF MAN'S FIGURE FOR THE "ARTS OF WAR" 193 Leighton House Collection.
25. STUDY OF MAN'S FIGURE FOR THE "ARTS OF WAR," 1872 193 Leighton House Collection.
26. "ANTIQUE JUGGLING GIRL," 1874 (Photogravure) 194 By kind permission of Mr. HODGES.
27. "CLYTEMNESTRA FROM THE BATTLEMENT OF ARGOS WATCHES FOR THE BEACON FIRES WHICH ARE TO ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF AGAMEMNON," 1874 (Photogravure) 194 Leighton House Collection.
28. STUDY FOR "CLYTEMNESTRA" 194 Leighton House Collection.
29. STUDY FOR "SUMMER MOON" (Colour) 194 Executed by moonlight in Rome. Given by the late A. WATERHOUSE, R.A., to the Leighton House Collection.
30. "THE DAPHNEPHORIA," 1876 197 By kind permission of the FINE ART SOCIETY.
31. "AT A READING-DESK," 1877 197 By kind permission of Messrs. L.H. LEFEVRE & SON.
32. ORIGINAL STUDY FOR "AN ATHLETE STRUGGLING WITH A PYTHON," 1876 199 Given by the late G.F. WATTS to the Leighton House Collection.
35. STUDY FOR THE FIGURE OF CIMABUE, CARRIED OUT IN MOSAIC IN THE SOUTH COURT OF THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, 1868 203 Leighton House Collection.
36. STUDY FOR THE FIGURE OF NICCOLA PISANO, CARRIED OUT IN MOSAIC IN THE SOUTH COURT OF THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, 1868 203 Leighton House Collection.
37. SKETCH OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES, ATTENDED BY LORD LEIGHTON, WHEN PRESENT AT A MONDAY POPULAR CONCERT IN ST. JAMES'S HALL 216 Drawn at the time by Mr. Theodore Blake Wirgman.
38. PORTRAIT OF SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON, K.C.M.G., 1876 218
39. VIEW OF ARAB HALL, 1906 221 Leighton House Collection.
40. PORTRAIT OF PROFESSOR GIOVANNI COSTA 222 Executed at Lerici in 1878.
41. "ELIJAH IN THE WILDERNESS," 1879 255
42. STUDY FOR THE FIGURE OF "ELIJAH" 255 Leighton House Collection.
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