The New York herald., 1878-11-15
FINE ARTS.
FREDERICK LEIGHTON THE NEW PRESIDENT OF
poyAr AcAnr1ry


Frederick Leighton the distinguished English
painter, who as announced yesterday by cable,
has been elected president of the English Royal
Academy to succeed the Sir Francis Grant born
at atScarborough Yorkshire. on the sd of December,
$780, His father WAS an eminent physician. and his
grandfather, Sir James Leighton. also medical man,
was long resident at the Court of st. Petersburg
He early evinced strong inclination for artistic
career While still boy. at the age Of about eleven
years. he commenced his studies under Francesca
Nell at Rome In 1Sl3. while In his twelfth year. he
entered the Royal Academy at Berlin. and after
course of instruction there left for Frankfort
to continue his general studies. While in
Florence with his father during the winter
of Isi5i6 the latter decided the advice of Hiram
Powers, tho sculptor to allow his son to follow his
artistic b0t and become painter. The father did
not wish his son to follow art as profession unless
he was likely to attain eminence He consented.
however. after Powers. on examining the lads
sketches, said with conviction, "Your son may be-
come as eminent he pleascs." The father now
sent tile boy back to Frankfort to pursue his
artistic and general studies where he remained from
1s46 to 1S4s. He then went to Brussels to continue
his study OF painting, and while there produced his
trst work, ..Cimabue Meeting Giotto Drawing in the
Fields" From Brussels the young painter
found his way to Paris. where he spent some
ing the works of the masters in the Louvre
He again turned his steps to Frankfort and entered
the studio Of Professor L. Steinle of Vienna pupil
Of Overlook, under whom he studied for three years
He also received instruction from Professor Becker at
this Period. During this time he produced several
notable canvases which gave promise Of his future
fame. The most remarkable OF these was large
picture called .The Death Of Brunelesco." The
greater part of the winters Of the years he in
Steinles study were spent in Rome During this
period lie painted another large canvas-'Cmabue''-
representing the scene of the triumphal progress
through the streets of Florence of the Madonna"
Of that master, which destined to make
him q reputation in England He sent it
to the Royal : Academy of 1855, where
it created great sensation, much increased by the
known in his own country. The Queen sealed the
popular verdict by buying the picture. The rising
he had his studio before settling down in London
While in Paris he became the friend Of and received
much advice from. AIRY schefier, Robert F1eury and
other artists Of emiuence. The pictures which he
exhibited in London each year increased his rcputa
ton. and his Dante in Exile" in the Academy Of
bue," the picture Of his debut Among Mr. Leightons
best known canvases which have been exhibited IN the
Royal Academy, and some of them at the Paris Salon,
we note "Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna is Carried
in Procession through the Streets Of Florence 1S55
The Triumph Of Music, and mOrphens Redeemins
His Wife from Hades' 1856; ''The Fisher and the ST.
rem and scene from Romeo and Juliet 185s) The
Fields in Autumn 'pavonia." Sunny Hours and
and francesca" .Songs without Words" "a Dream
and Capri Q86l; ''The Otlalisqle. "The star OF
Bethlehem" Michael Michael Angelo IN Nursing His ID. Dy-
"Ahab "a and Jczabei.'' .'Girl Feeding. speacock,''
"Girl Carrying Basket of Fruit and s'An italian
Crossbowman" QS63); Golden Hours" "Orpheus
and Eurydice and "Dante in Exile uS64); David"
Helen Of Troy. widows Prayer :. In st. Marks.
Brides Leading Wild Beasts in Procession to the Tenn
pie Of Diana and Painters Honeymoon qsc6.
anudc yenas" nIoman Mother and "cadz i in the
David, "Ariadns Abandoned by Theseus,''
"Acme aud septimus" and .Actea, the
"DadaIrs and Icarus," Electra al theTomb of Aga
mernnon." "Helios' and "Rhodos' 1850; "a Woman
for the Body Of Acestis. "a;recan Girls Gathering
Pebbles by the Sea " and "Claoboulos Instructng His
Daughter Cieobouline" us7l); After vespers;n "A
ing the WREATH and The Industrial Arts OF Peace"
designed for the south Kensinstcn Museum rs7s:
.old Damascus" Antique. Juggling Girl, and
"clytemncstria Looking from iho Walls Of
for the the ntsn o Ers nsh s x
Portion of the Interior Of the Grand Mosque at Da
mascas.' :, Little iatima" Venetian Girl Eastern
'Teresina,' and ."paolo. ns7e); "siusic lesson"
Python" bronze uS77): ''Seratna.' winding the
Skein" and 'Nausicaa t1S7sI He represented at
the Universal Exhibition Paris of this year by ELIAS
in the Desert, which to be presented to the Liver
pool Museum: 'Tle Music Lesson" portrait of Cap
tain Burton. and by piece of sculpture, athlete
Battling with Python which belongs to the Royal
Academy.
Mr.. Leighton has done considerable illustration.
probably the best known and most notable OF which
the drawings Tor George Eiots Florentine novel,
.Romoln." He obtained gold medal of the second
class at the Salon OF 1882 In 1856 no elected
sociate of the Royal Academy arecogntion by his
.Syracuean Brides. and was made member in 1869.
He of the Fine Art Jury at the late Exposi-
ton and very properly Withdrew his pictures from
competition. action which his co-jurors might
well have initiated He was. however. given first
medal for his piece Of sculpture above alluded to- Mr.
Leighton is a corresponding member Of the Institute
of France.
His paintings are in what the French call Grand
STYLE for their grace the strength Of
their manipulation combined with high finish the
purity OF the coloring and their general elegance of
style
Of him one critic has well sad whstcver diversity
Of opinion may exist concerning characteristics
of Mr. Leightons art il s universally admitted that
no English painters works distinguished III
greater perhaps equal degree by the attributes of
siylcthat to say preserved the Continent Of
Europe by long and uninterrupted adherence to the
examples and traditions OF the schools, especially of
that of Venice" Tho painter Is an accomplished
cian He is q good comrade and loves TO encourage
the talent of younger men. He is a handsome man.
% built Tn rnn degp FRAY w nc
beard and mouth about which, on greeting friend.
recent writer says. "a smile fiickcrs In which is a
| strange mingng Of girl-like sweetness and manly
pfcsn II CHRIST '' ''A' se'' '''''''' ~ : ~ '
Inc nome Oh tne palnter II ~ artlstc 4uarter
| of London, Kcnsington. in Holland Park row. Near
him live his brother artists Valentine Prinscp Watts
Marcus Stone William Burgess. Thornycroft and Luke
Fildcs. In his house he has many bne works by an
| cient and modern masters. Constable and Corot are
in the drawing Bassano. rintcretto, Bono.
Reynolds Watts and others in the hall and line
the staircase. In the dining room on the nnntcl and
in cabinets rich dishes and Of Rhodan ware
the collection of which TX the artists pet foible The
lofty studio is filed with rich rugs, and tables
On the wall opposite the great window the Parthcnaic
Frcizo hangs amid studies made in Tebcs and Athens,
In Persia Syria, Egypt and italy. Mr.. Leighton. ac-
corng 20 custom. win probably soon receive from
4 the Queen the order Of knghthood
| ART RECEPTION AT THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB
The first OF this seasons monthly art receptions of
tho Union League Club drew together in the art gal
| Iery last evening large assembagc of well known
and ~ mir