Leighton House Museum in Holland Park, London was the home of Victorian artist Lord Frederic Leighton. It is now a museum open to the public, showcasing Leighton’s artwork and the building’s architecture. The Arab Hall is a notable feature, decorated with blue ceramic tiles and a gold ceiling. Visitors can take guided or self-guided tours and attend exhibitions. The museum hosts an annual contemporary art festival featuring artists from the Middle East and North Africa. It is maintained with tax money from Kensington and Chelsea residents.
The Leighton House Museum is located in the Greater London area of Holland Park in the United Kingdom. The house was formerly the home of Victorian artist Lord Frederic Leighton, who began construction on the building in 1864 and continued to add to the house until his death in 1896. It was designed by George Aitchison, a famous architect in Victorian England . In 1900, Leighton House was transformed into a museum run by the council of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
The museum is open to the public and visitors can walk through the house and view the building’s architecture and Lord Leighton’s artwork. Areas of the house were designed to be viewed by the public during Lord Leighton’s lifetime, including the Arab Hall which was open to school children during the 19th century. The museum also gives visitors access to parts of the museum that were closed to the public during Lord Leighton’s lifetime, such as his private bedroom.
Arab Hall is a two-story room designed by Aitchison to house the library of over 1,000 works of oriental literature owned by Lord Leighton. Blue ceramic tiles designed by Victorian artist William de Morgan adorn the walls of the room and a gold ceiling completes the decoration. The decorations of the Leighton House Museum reflect the interests of Lord Leighton, famous for his paintings of Oriental and Arabian scenes. Since the restoration of Leighton House Museum in the 21st century, visitors have had access to Lord Leighton’s sleeping quarters, which is decorated with wallpaper designed by William Morris and reflects the conservative values of Victorian England.
Various tours are available for visitors to Leighton House Museum, with guided tours available as well as self-guided tours. Downloads are available for electronic devices with which visitors can find their way around the house. Exhibitions of artists’ works also take place at Leighton House, with some exhibitions free apart from the general admission fee for museum entry.
Leighton House Museum hosts an annual contemporary art festival highlighting the works of artists from the Middle East and North Africa. Included in the festival are events showcasing music, film and fashion from the areas included in the festival. Leighton House Museum is maintained with tax money raised by residents of Kensington and Chelsea.
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