Frederic Leighton: President of the Royal Academy

"Giovanni Costa" by Frederic Leighton

"In 1878 Frederic Leighton became President of the Royal Academy, a position he held until 1896 and which carried the customary knighthood. Alike by the qualities of his work, his unique social position, and mental endowments, he was a fitting head to the official Art institution of his country. Among the honours which were bestowed upon him in consequence of his election were the Honorary Membership of the Royal Academies of Scotland and Ireland, and the Honorary Associateship of the Institut de France. He was also name Officier de la Legion d'Honneur, and received a medal of the first class for sculpture at the Salon.

He received many letters of congratulations including one from his old teacher Steinle: 

"Dear and honoured Friend, Today I have read in the paper that the choice of President of the Royal Academy has fallen upon you, and since I am convinced that this distinguished position is both appropriate to your services to art, and also certainly well merited, you must permit an old friend, who remains bound to you in love only, to offer you his dearest and warmest good wishes upon this honour. I pray God, that your position may provide you with great power in your country for good so as to enable you to encourage the noblest things in art. I am convinced that you, dear friend, will make a right and fruitful use of it."

As if to demonstrate that his enthusiasm and labour were in no danger of being limited by reason of his having accepted the highest distinction possible for an artist in Great Britain, the President's brush was very prolific in 1879. To the Grosvenor Gallery he sent no fewer than eleven contributions - delightful souvenirs of his travels in Italy, Spain, Algiers, Egypt, and Syria. To the Gallery in Suffolk Street he sent three pictures - all Italian. Twenty-one examples in one year! Verily the saying, must have originated in this display of vigour and beauty combined - 'No one can do like Leighton!'

In 1879 Cambridge University bestowed upon him her LL.D., while Oxford made him D.C.L. Three years earlier he had become Fellow of Trinity College, London."

To be continued

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