Drawings by Frederic, Lord Leighton PRA from the Royal Academy Collection

Until 29 September 2006

In the Library Print Room

Lord Leighton PRA (1830-1896), Head and shoulders of a man, possibly relating to 'Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna' watercolour and gouache over black chalk on blue wove paper 250 X 193 mm Until 29 September 2006
Free Admission

Successful as a painter, sculptor and administrator, Frederic Leighton reigned over the Victorian art world as President of the Royal Academy from 1878 until his death in 1896. His artistic achievements sprang from a talent for meticulous draughtsmanship and his drawings are among the most accomplished of his generation.

Leighton enjoyed an unusually cosmopolitan upbringing, joining his parents on their travels around Europe. He trained at academies and ateliers in Italy, Germany and France, completing his formal studies in Frankfurt with the painter Edward von Steinle. This small display includes a number of Leighton’s early life drawings and travel sketches showing the effects of his rigorous European training.

Drawing remained crucial to Leighton’s work throughout his career. Although his later paintings were praised for their colouring Leighton continued to draw in monochrome. The display features preparatory studies for one of his first paintings, Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna Carried in Procession through the Streets of Florence (1853-55) and also one of his last, Perseus and Andromeda (c. 1891). There are also tracings, sketch models, photographs and a case of memorabilia.

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Closed Saturday to Monday

• Royal Academy of Arts