Frederic Leighton: Franco-Prussian War

"A Condottiere" by Frederic Leighton

"The terrible events of 1870-71, which laid France waste, were watched with keen sympathy by Frederic Leighton. For him the Franco-German War was like a civil combat, for his ties with Germany and her artists were as strong as were those with France and her artists - brothers were arrayed against brothers.

Very many of his Parisian friends and other French painters and sculptors found a refuge in England, chiefly in London, where no one received them more delightedly or more hospitably than Leighton. Among the rest were Le Gros, Dalou, Gerome, and Lanteri, all of whom in turn benefited by his friendship and obtained, through him principally, employment and honours. For example, Le Gros became Slade Professor of Painting at Oxford, Dalou was appointed Master of Modelling at South Kensington, and Lanteri was name his successor after Dalou's return to Paris in 1874. Leighton was accustomed to give breakfast parties to his French confreres, and generally kept open house and studio for them all.

Leighton managed to contribute three pictures to the Royal Academy in 1872, and a portrait of the Right Hon. Sir Edward Ryan, one of his best examples of portraiture. 'One of the loveliest things ever seen at Burlington House' was a common remark of artists and people about his 'Summer Moon.' The 'Condottiere' was a very noble conception of a noble character - soldier, courtier, scholar - much like the painter himself. 'After Vespers' was a three-quarter length of a young girl in green drapery, standing by a bench and holding in her hands a string of beads. This composition, which offers a striking contrast to 'A Condottiers' together with 'Summer Moon,' displays quite remarkably Leighton's versatility."

To be continued

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