Frederic Leighton
Baron Frederick Leighton (December 3, 1830 - January 25, 1896)) was an English painter and sculptor, a prominent representative of Victorian academism (salon art), in some respects close to the Pre-Raphaelites. His favorite themes were mythology and history. He became the first English artist to be awarded the title of lord. Leighton began studying painting at the age of ten in Rome and later in London, Dresden and Florence. In 1855, he first exhibited his works at the Royal Academy of Arts and received an award for a painting subsequently acquired by Queen Victoria. Leighton painted mainly on subjects from ancient literature and history with images of nude female figures. Leighton often introduced sentimental details into his compositions. It is this feature of his works that became one of the reasons for the artist's popularity.
