Edmund Blair Leighton (1852 - 1952) — an English artist who worked in a style close to the Pre-Raphaelites, although he was not a member of that famous fraternity. He was best known for his historical paintings, which depicted a romanticized Middle Ages with fearless knights and beautiful princesses. In many ways, this was a response to the awakening interest of Victorian society in a period that most ordinary people knew only from old English ballads. Some of Leighton's paintings are almost illustrations of these ballads; they beautifully convey their spirit, but do not pretend to be historically accurate.
The Accolade. 1901
However, no one demanded it from the artist, he was very popular and successful during his lifetime, fortunately, together with a fresh view of painting, characteristic of the Pre-Raphaelites, his paintings were characterized by excellent decorativeness and magnificent drawing. In the end, the paintings on the plots of his English ballads were much closer and more understandable to the inhabitants of foggy Albion than the usual works of the academicians of that time, depicting for the hundredth time the events of ancient myths, all sorts of goddesses and naiads.
The Dedication
Leighton's paintings are very graceful, refined and detailed. His style is similar to that of Konstantin Makovsky, who loved to depict the rich, boyar Rus', paying special attention to luxurious clothing and careful drawing of household objects. But at the same time, each painting is characterized by a carefully worked out plot, although in order to understand it, it would be good to be familiar with the original source that inspired Leighton.
My Fair Lady (1914)
However, many of his paintings are simply a free, romanticized view of life in the Middle Ages, such as the work "Call to Arms". A noble couple has just gotten married, but instead of a feast and subsequent wedding night, the young husband has to go and retake the city from the enemies. Surely he is a noble feudal lord who must lead the army. A local military leader, dressed in full knightly regalia, approaches him with terrible news, and it seems that the news is such that it requires immediate intervention.
Call to Arms
The young man grabs his dagger in a belligerent manner and has no doubts about what to do in this situation. All the noble citizens are watching their young leader, and if he showed the slightest weakness and tried to abandon his duties at such a terrible hour, it would be difficult for him to maintain his power. And it is unknown how the city's garrison would react if they learned that their leader had shamefully chickened out. And a lost battle would certainly end badly for all the city's inhabitants.
Defeated
Leighton proved himself a true master of historical costume and took the trouble to carefully depict the stunningly beautiful outfit of the newlywed. There is a luxurious white fur trim on the cape, and gold embroidery on the hem of the white dress, a weightless veil, a handbag and a bridal bouquet. It is unlikely that the medieval bride actually had the latter attributes; Leighton simply brought the characters in the paintings closer to his contemporaries in an attempt to make them closer and more understandable.
Faded Laurels (1889)
His paintings resemble scenes from an expensive Hollywood fairy tale, where decorative conventions prevail over the truth of life, but who said that art must necessarily be truthful? It is enough that it is simply beautiful.
Buy handmade goods or modern art you can on artAlebrio - is an international marketplace for people who want to create, sell, buy and collect unique items and art - buy the best with us artAlebrio.com.
By confirming your order you unconditionally accept these General Conditions of Sale
