Edmund Leighton

Edmund Leighton

Edmund Leighton was an English Romantic artist who lived from 1852 to 1922. He is most known for his Victorian-era art depicting medieval subjects and legends. His art blurs the boundary between Romanticism and the Pre-Raphaelites. Even though most people today do not know his name, most are familiar with his work.

Edmund Blair Leighton was born in London, England in 1852. His father was Charles Blair Leighton, a well-respected genre and portrait artist, who died prematurely when Edmund was just two years old. Leighton exhibited an artistic talent early on, though his mother and family were hesitant for him to follow art as a career path. 

Leighton graduated from the University College School at 15 years old. His first job was at an office for a tea merchant in London. Though he was always fond of drawing, Leighton did not pursue art until he had made enough money to pay for the art classes he wished to take. After taking night classes in art at first South Kensington and then Heatherly’s School, at 21 years old, Leighton decided to change careers. He enrolled at the prestigious Royal Academy of Art. 

In 1874, Leighton had his first exhibition at 26 years old, showing his painting, “A Flaw in the Title” which sold. He got a job as an illustrator for the publisher, Cassess & Co. His earliest artworks were black and white illustrations for Cassell’s Magazine and the Book of British Ballads, as well as the magazine, Harper’s Bazaar. 

Though Leighton painted modern scenes as well, he is most remembered for his medieval-inspired paintings. He created iconic images depicting Arthurian legends. His art still shapes modern perceptions of what the Middle Ages were. Filmmakers have used his vision of medieval times to inspire their own works. Leighton’s art exhibited no dark themes. They instead focused on displaying chivalry and humanity at its best.

In 1885, Leighton married Katherine Nash. They had two children, including E. J. Blair Leighton, who also became an artist. From 1900 onward, Leighton produced some of his most famous pieces, including “Godspeed” and “The Accolade”. He created a series of paintings devoted to the idea of chivalry. Leighton was a contemporary with John William Waterhouse, who painted the same lofty subjects, including the works of William Shakespeare and Sir Thomas Malory.

Leighton’s work is known for its high detail and refined finish. His paintings told stories, providing a bounty of detail about the setting from one still scene. He was extremely successful with the public who adored his period pieces. Though he never became a member of the Royal Academy of art, he exhibited his work there annually from 1878 to 1920. Each year, he would create one large painting for the Royal Academy exhibition, and then smaller paintings to satisfy the public. Edmund Leighton died in 1922 at 69 years of age.

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