Edmund Blair Leighton

Artist Biography

A painter of historical and classical genre, much of his earlier art, prints and posters consisted of medieval historical subjects, to which he returned later in life. However, in the 1880's he turned to the Regency period 1810-1820, as a source of inspiration.

This specific area of historical genre had been brought to prominence by the art, prints and posters of William Quiller Orchardson (1832-1910) and Marcus Stone (1840-1921). They, together with Edmund Blair Leighton, were prime exponents of regency subjects, portraying a nostalgia for the pre-industrial golden age; subjects sought after by the very collectors to whom the Industrial Revolution had brought wealth and prosperity on an undreamed of scale.

The number further underlines the popularity of these art, prints and posters, which were reproduced through the printing process of photogravure and widely disseminated. Edmund Blair Leighton lived in West London, in Priory Road, Bedford Park from 1889 to his death.

Edmund Blair Leighton Art, Prints and Posters Collection