by Diana Reese (Bakers)
On a rather wet and dismal May morning, and after some unfortunate travel delays, the Firebirds gathered near Holland Park to be guided around Leighton House.

Sir Frederic Leighton was born in 1830 and spent most of his early years in Europe courtesy of his mother’s poor health. This meant that by the time he reached adulthood he had already studied art in a variety of European cities and had had the opportunity to mingle and work alongside influential artists. On his return to London in 1860 he continued his career and, in modern parlance, ‘networked’ with the artistic set of the day.

When the opportunity arose, in 1864, to buy a plot of land being sold by the widow of Henry Fox, Baron Holland of Holland Park, Leighton decided to build a house which would provide him with both a home and a studio. The original house was relatively compact, but was extended over time. The magnificent Arab hall, inspired by his travels to Damascus, complete with pool and fountain, was added 1877-81. The winter studio in 1889-90 and the Silk Room, the final addition, 1894-5.

Sir Frederic was a generous host and frequently housed exhibitions and concerts. He was appointed President of the Royal Academy in 1878, a post he held up until his death in 1896. Leighton never married and, after his death, his sisters sold the contents of the house at auction, all carefully catalogued by Christie’s. The house itself did not sell and ownership was eventually transferred to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 1927, who maintain it and have sought to refurnish the house with original items as and when they become available.

The Firebirds were in awe of the colour used throughout the house and in particular by the magnificence of the tiled Arab hall. Our guide had encyclopedic knowledge of the life of Sir Frederic, his art and the house, and enthused us all . After such an intriguing glimpse into the lives of the artistic set of the Victorian era, we retreated round the corner for lunch at Rosso. In true Firebirds style, the wine and the conversation flowed.

Thank you El for enticing us along to this intriguing house. I for one would not have discovered this gem without your prompting and I would have missed a treat.