Leighton House Museum

Leighton House Museum

On Thursday I visited Leighton House Museum in Holland Park, London.  This was the home of Frederic Leighton (1830-1896) a famous painter of the nineteenth century and was often associated with the Asethetic Movement. From the outside it looks like nothing special but step inside and WOW it blows you away.  The ground floor Staircase Hall is tiled in turquoise and the Arab Hall is just incredible with large wooden windows and overhanging lattice, beautiful tiles and a panel containing a verse from the Qur'an (Surah 55, Verses 1-6) about the creation of the world.  There is a little pool too. The dining room would have seen the likes of William Morris and Rossetti gracing the table and Queen Victoria also visited in 1869.  There is a library overloking the road and drawing room which overlooks the garden.

Upstairs the Silk Room displays Morris fabrics and a a painting by Millais (Shelling Peas) and an area with an Egyptian latticework window (overlooking the Arab Hall) where you can imagine middle eastern men lounging with a meal and smoking a hukka! 

Leighton's studio is still used today and was being used that day. Nothing like being able to watch an artist in action.  There was only one bedroom which had a dressing room which would have contained a bath and a water closet. The bedroom was very cell like, sparse and the walls were papered with a William Morris design.

The garden was unfortunately closed but I managed to get a couple of photos through the gates!  The website is worth a look if you want to know more.  There is a vitual tour but I couldn't get it to work (that might be my computer!) but you might have better luck.

The garden at Leighton House Museum