Leading London estate agent Strutt & Parker is proud to announce its sponsorship of an exciting new exhibition at Leighton House Museum in Kensington.
Leading London estate agent Strutt & Parker is proud to announce its sponsorship of an exciting new exhibition at Leighton House Museum in Kensington.
A Victorian Obsession: The Pérez Simón Collection presents rarely seen masterpieces of Victorian art belonging to the Mexican collector Juan Antonio Pérez Simón.
Until 29 March 2015, visitors to Leighton House Museum will have the opportunity to experience 52 exceptional paintings from the largest Victorian private art collection outside Great Britain, shown for the first time in the UK.
Lulu Egerton, Partner at Strutt & Parker, said: “As exclusive UK affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, we have a keen understanding of the marriage between property and art. We are delighted to be part of such an outstanding display of Victorian masterpieces in a beautiful, historic building and former private home.”
The images range from the domestic to the romantic and from the symbolic to the overtly sexual. Alongside six works by Frederic, Lord Leighton (four of which have returned to the house in which they were painted), A Victorian Obsession presents paintings that have seldom, if ever, been exhibited before, by many of the celebrated Victorian artists. One of the highlights is Alma-Tadema’s magnificent The Roses of Heliogabalus (1888), and iconic image of Roman decadence which has not been exhibited in London since 1913.
On his collection being displayed at Leighton House, Juan Antonio Pérez Simón commented: “it is an honour to be part of the journey that allows these masterpieces to be shown in such an authentic setting, and in some cases returning to their home. It gives me great joy to know that the public will be able to appreciate these exceptional paintings, making us accomplices in our everlasting duty to nourish the spirit.”
Senior Curator for Leighton House Museum, Daniel Robbins, said: “It has been a wonderful opportunity to work so closely with this fantastic collection of pictures. The House is now transformed by the painting and the paintings are enhanced by setting them within Leighton’s decorative interiors; there has never been an exhibition where so many outstanding pictures of this period have been shown in such a special and sympathetic environment.”
Leighton House Museum is the former home and studio of the leading Victorian artists, Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830 -1896). Located on the edge of Holland Park in Kensington, it is one of the most remarkable buildings of the 19th century. Originally constructed on a modest basis, Leighton House grew to become a ‘private palace of art’ visited by many of the great artists of the day and regarded as one of the architectural sights of London. The Arab Hall is the centrepiece of the house – designed to display Leighton’s priceless collection of over a thousand Islamic tiles.
Exhibition: A Victorian Obsession: The Pérez Simón Collection at Leighton House Museum.
Dates: 14 November 2014 – 29 March 2015
Venue: Leighton House Museum, open daily except Tuesdays, 10 am – 5.30 pm
Entry: £10 / £6 concessions / Art Fund and National Trust Members 50% discount