100 Heroes: Frederic Leighton
The gay man who became a celebrated painter and sculptor.
Frederic Leighton was a painter, draughtsman, and sculptor. His works depicted historical, biblical, and classical subject matter in an academic style.
Biography
Born in Scarborough in England in 1830, Leighton was born into a wealthy family.
He pursued artistic training from a young age, spending considerable time studying in Europe.
In 1860, he moved to London and immersed himself in the art world.
In 1864 he became an associate of the Royal Academy and in 1878 he became its President.
Sexuality
Leighton never married and it's widely assumed that he had numerous relationships with men.
He was known to surround himself with younger men at his studio, and it's believed he had a passionate encounter with the poet Henry William Greville.
