Frederic Leighton died in 1896 and his entire collection was sold at an auction by Christie’s, leaving the house as a virtual empty shell. It fell to Leighton’s near neighbour, Emilie Barrington and the Leighton House Committee, newly formed in 1897, to re-assemble a representative body of some of Leighton’s artworks as well as art pieces that he collected. These remain the core of the collections today and work is ongoing to retrieve items from his original collection.


Art Unlocked is an online talk series by Art UK in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies. This Curation is based on a talk by Hannah Lund, Assistant Curator at Leighton House, on 18th January 2023. You can watch a recording of the talk on Art UK's YouTube channel.

Artists featured in this Curation: Frederic Leighton (1830–1896)
6 artworks
Colour Sketch for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna is Carried in Procession through the Streets of Florence', 1854
Image credit: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

Colour Sketch for 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna is Carried in Procession through the Streets of Florence', 1854

Frederic Leighton (1830–1896)

Oil on canvas

H 28 x W 63 cm

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

Orpheus and Eurydice
Image credit: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

Orpheus and Eurydice 1864

Frederic Leighton (1830–1896)

Oil on canvas

H 168.3 x W 151 cm

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

La nanna, Pavonia
Image credit: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

La nanna, Pavonia 1859

Frederic Leighton (1830–1896)

Oil on canvas

H 91.3 x W 82 cm

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

A Street in Damascus
Image credit: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

A Street in Damascus c.1873

Frederic Leighton (1830–1896)

Oil on canvas

H 38 x W 37 cm

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

Alexandra Orr, née Leighton (1828–1903)
Image credit: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

Alexandra Orr, née Leighton (1828–1903) 1890

Frederic Leighton (1830–1896)

Oil on canvas

H 88 x W 75.5 cm

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

Clytie
Image credit: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum

Clytie 1895

Frederic Leighton (1830–1896)

Oil on canvas

H 156 x W 136 cm

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Culture Service, Leighton House Museum