Leighton House Museum
12 Holland Park Road
London
Greater London
W14 8LZ
England
Website
Official website
Telephone
020 7602 3316
Fax
020 7371 2467
Leighton House Museum is the former studio-house of the great Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). Located on the edge of London’s Holland Park, the house is one of the most extraordinary buildings of the nineteenth century.
The Arab Hall is the centrepiece of the house. Designed to display Leighton's priceless collection of over 1000 Islamic tiles, the interior evokes a compelling vision of the Orient. A golden mosaic frieze encricles the room, elaborate decorative paintwork illuminates the domed ceiling, coloured marbles clad the walls and in the centre a fountain adds a calming murmur to the sumptuous atmosphere.
The opulence of the Arab Hall continues through the other richly decorated interiors with gilded ceilings and walls lined with stunning peacock blue tiles by the ceramic artist William De Morgan. On the first floor is Leighton's grand painting studio, where he worked for many hours almost every day that he was at home. With its great dome and apse the studio is the heart and purpose of the house and was also the venue for Leighton's celebrated musical evenings.
Leighton was at the very centre of the London artworld and many of the leading figures of the day were welcomed into his extraordinary home. Today it draws visitors from around the world.
The Museum provides an unforgettable insight into Leighton’s private world and is a unique venue for the understanding and appreciation of Victorian art and architecture.
Venue Type:
Museum, Gallery, Historic house or home
Leighton House Museum has an outstanding collection of Leighton’s drawings. Most of these were acquired in the years immediately following the artist’s death. With the addition of later purchases the collection now comprises over seven hundred works.
Leighton's own collection also included works by many of his contemporaries, Burne Jones, Millais, Alma-Tadema and Albert Moore. Important works by these artists remain hanging in the house as well as over 80 examples of paintings and sculpture by Leighton himself.
Collection details
Architecture, Archives, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art
Key artists and exhibits
- Frederic Lord Leighton
- Burne-Jones
- Millais
- Frederick Watts
- Alma-Tadema
- Albert Moore
- Victorian art and architecture
- Islamic tiles
- William De Morgan
Islam
See "Near and Middle East" entry. The Arab hall includes tiles carrying verses from the Qu'ran in praise of Allah.
Near & Middle East
Leighton House Museum contains a spectacular Arab Hall, lined with priceless tiles from Syria and Turkey that date from the thirteenth to nineteenth centuries. You can see pictures of the hall online, both as it is now, and as it was in 1879. The hall was built by Lord Leighton, an artist, after travels in Asia Minor and Greece in 1867.
There are also a number of paintings in the house showing scenes from the Middle East. Leighton House have compiled an Arab tour which you can see online.
Studio Sittings: Photographing Royal Academicians
What remains unchanged over a period of more than 150 years is the fascination of photographers, art lovers and collectors with images of artists and their creative spaces. We still see these pictures as a record and one possible key to understanding the artist, the creative process, and the social environment in which they lived. Anne Purkiss, 2013.
For over 25 years, portrait photographer Anne Purkiss has been taking pictures of Royal Academicians. Often posed in their studios, these images are a unique record of some of the most celebrated artists of recent times. From Dame Elisabeth Frink, to Sir Peter Blake and Sir Anthony Caro the images provide a telling insight into the artist’s working environment and their creative spaces.
Frederic Leighton’s own career was bound up with the Royal Academy. Elected an Associate in 1864, he became President in 1878. His era saw the emergence of the celebrity artist; whose image was widely photographed, published and collected. Studio Sittings includes photographs of Leighton and his RA contemporaries also posed in their studios allowing a fascinating dialogue to emerge.
Admission
Museums admission charges applies. £5 adults, £3 concessions (ticket includes free return entry within 12 months).
Website
The Fabric of Life
Essie Sakhi is one of Europe's foremost experts on Persian rugs and carpets. Born in Iran to a family with a long history of dealing in carpets, he established Essie Carpets in Picadilly carrying on the family tradition sarted in the 18th century.
His carpets have been bought by collectors all over the world and Essie has written extensively on their history and significance as works of art.
For the first time, this exhibition brings together some of the most rare and beautiful examples from Essie's collections. These will be displayed throuhout the spectacular interiors at Leighton HOuse evoking the appearance of the ouse in Frederic Leighton's time and giving a unique opportunity to view these wonderful carpets and rugs in an unforgettable setting.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Schools Summer Art Exhibition
This exhibition celebrates work being produced within the Royal Borough's schools and is intended to encourage children and young people to pursue and develop their interests and talent in art.
Suitable for
Admission
Free with admission
Summer Concert: Leighton's Music
The concerts held every year in Leighton’s studio were like a who’s who of mid-nineteenth century music making. There was a real sense of the creative arts reaching across to each other – all in the informal and intimate atmosphere of the studio, with Leighton’s work in progress all around them.
Following his successful recreation of one of Leighton’s “Musics” last summer, musician and broadcaster Sandy Burnett returns to host another concert at Leighton House. There’ll be a look at how music was enjoyed in the salons of Paris and elsewhere in continental Europe. Music from more recent times will also be presented in an atmosphere which Leighton would have recognised.
The programme includes the E minor violin sonata by Mozart and the A major sonata by Brahms; songs by Schubert, Gounod and Britten; and some of Chopin’s best-loved piano music.
Suitable for
- 18+
When
7:15-10pm
Admission
Tickets £25.00. Phone 020 7471 9153 to book.
Doors open 6.45pm and tickets include refreshment (served during the interval).
Website
Getting there
Underground:
High Street Kensington, Olympia or Holland Park.
Buses:
9, 10, 27, 28, 49, 328 stops on Kensington High Street/Earls Court Road
Car:
Metered car parking is limited in Holland Park Road and surrounding streets. The Holland Park car park off Abbotsbury Road is approximately ten minutes' walk away.
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