Frederic Leighton: Death

 

"Lachrymae" by
Frederic Leighton

"From Algiers Frederic Leighton travelled slowly along the shores of the Mediterranean. The warm sun, the good air, the freedom from work, all did wonders, and the distressing heart attacks became less frequent and less severe; but he did not conceal from himself, nor from his friends, his apprehensions. Strong as was his physical development and vigorous as was his will and mental calibre, the excessive strain exacted by the ceaseless toil and insufficient rest of years, together with what he took out of himself by his mental and nervous tension in doing that 'significant thing,' told the inevitable tale.

Leighton's last study from nature was painted in Rome in October 1895, for his unfinished picture 'Clytie,' exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1896. 'It was,' says Giovanni Costa, who was his companion as usual, 'a study of fruit, and he enjoyed working at it for several hours every day, although he was really ill. After this we went to the Vatican, to Siena, and to Florence, where he saw for the last time the great masterpieces.'

After he was welcomed home with affectionate solicitude by his sisters and friends, his name came before Queen Victoria in connection with the New Year honours. She conferred upon him a Barony. This honour, however gave Leighton some misgiving as to the title by which he should now call himself. When his peerage was at last gazetted, he was styled 'Baron Leighton of Stretton, in the County of Shropshire.' He had already adopted the Leighton motto, 'Dread Shame.' The Gazette notice only appeared the day before his death, and consequently Leighton never took his seat in the House of Peers. 

His last working day on earth was January 22nd, 1896. He was taken ill during the night. His doctors saw that there was no hope, and he breathed his last on Saturday afternoon, January 25th, 1896. His last words were, 'Give my love to the Academy.'

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Lord Leighton of Stretton, P.R.A." by Edgcumbe Staley.)