Lord Frederick Leighton (British, 1830–1896) was a leading Victorian painter and sculptor, and a prominent member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, Leighton received his artistic training from Edward Jakob von Steinle (Austrian, 1810–1886) and Giovanni Costa (Italian, 1826–1903), followed by a brief period spent in Florence at the Accademia di Belle Arti, and several years in Paris. In 1860, he moved to London where he become an associate of the Royal Academy, before becoming president, a position he held for nearly two decades.
As a member of the Pre-Raphaelites, Leighton was influenced by the art of medieval and early Renaissance Europe. Unlike the work of Realist artists, Leighton’s art is characterized by a careful attention to detail, an emphasis on bright, luminous color palettes, and subject matter of a historical, spiritual, or moral nature.
Leighton's works are contained in the collections of prestigious institutions around the world, including his own home, which was turned into a museum in the late 1920s, as well as the National Gallery in London, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Tate Gallery.
