Frederic Leighton: Tributes

Lord Frederic Leighton's Memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral

"They carried Frederic Leighton to his burial. The dense crowd that lined the streets all through that mournful route testified to the universal respect and admiration and to the general regret and sorrow. All that was great and noble in the land gathered in the gloom of that winter's day when they laid him to rest in the deep crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral. 

Among the bast collection of lovely wreaths and other floral offerings which were borne with Leighton to his burial, and attached to his coffin, was one from the Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen Alexandra. In her own writing she had penning the following lines upon a card, which was tied with purple and white ribbon: 

'Life's race well run,
Life's work well done,
Life's crown well won;
Now comes rest."

A splendid monument to Lord Leighton was erected in St. Paul's Cathedral. Above is raised a bronze sarcophagus shaped like a decorated casket, bearing upon its lid the reclining figure in bronze of the President, habited in his robes and wearing the badge of his office. At each end are female figures emblematical of 'Painting' with her palette and brushes, and of 'Sculpture' with her spatula and a miniature replica of Leighton's 'The Sluggard' in her hand.

Sir C. Villiers Stanford, the talented Director of the Royal College of Music, and one of Leighton's dearest friends, composed not only a very sweet anthem which was sung at Leighton's obsequies, but also a fine 'Requiem' from which you may listen to an excerpt here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93vRZiZWuOQ

Preaching in Canterbury Cathedral eight days after Leighton's death, the Archdeacon of London, said: 'His life was inspired by the Christian spirit; and whatsoever things are nobly serious, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, things of virtue and of praise - to those things he devoted his Art and the power of a brilliant and gifted mind.'

On opening Leighton's will a bequest was discovered of 10,000 pounds to the Royal Academy, absolutely without conditions of any kind. The Academy's exhibition of 1896 was thronged by an unusual number of visitors. Many came to pay their sorrowful respects before the late President's last works and to lament for a vanished hand. 'Clytie' along hung on the walls which had been adorned and beautiful for years by his canvases - some of the loveliest ever painted in Great Britain."

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