LEIGHTON, Frederick, BARON, English painter: b. Scarborough, 3 Dec. 1830; d. Lon don, 25 Jan. 1896. He received some lessons in art at Paris as early as 1839, and then fol lowed further instruction at Rome. At 14 he entered the Royal Academy of Berlin and subsequent art studies were made by him at Frankfort, Brussels and Paris (1850). From Rome he sent to the Royal Academy exhibition of 1855 his picture of 'Cimabue's Madonna Carried Through Florence'— a work which called forth general admiration and was pur chased by the queen. He resided mostly in Paris for the next four years, studying and painting, and to this period belong, among other works, 'The Triumph of
(based on the story of Orpheus and Eurydice) ; 'The Fisherman and the
and 'Romeo and
Having finally settled in London, he was elected in 1863 an associate of the Royal Academy, and in 1869 a full academician. In 1878 he succeeded Sir Francis Grant as presi dent of the Royal Academy, was knighted and was also named an officer of the Legion of Honor. In 1886 he was created a baronet and in 1896 was raised to the peerage. From among his numerous works may be singled for special mention 'Paolo and Francesca) (1861) ; 'Jezebel and Ahab' (1863) ; 'Orpheus and Eurydice' (1864) ; 'Hercules Wrestling with Death' (1871) ; 'Elijah in the Wilderness' (1879) ; 'Hero Watching for Leander' (1887) ; 'Captive Andromache' (1888); 'Greek Girls Playing at Ball) (1889);
The special merit of his work lies in the per fection of his draftsmanship and design; his coloring, though possessing the unfailing charm of harmonious arrangement, is only thoroughly satisfactory from the decorative point of view. A fine poetic quality conjoined with elegance in drawing and great refinement in execution mark his whole work. His