Frederic Leighton

Frederic Leighton's paintings are shaped by the study of the human figure and by subjects from classical, biblical, and later historical traditions. Drapery and pose organize bodies into clear arrangements, often giving the composition a strong pattern of curves or diagonals. Flaming June concentrates these concerns in a single reclining figure, whose orange clothing forms a large part of the design. Smaller paintings and preparatory studies reveal the separate decisions about light, color, and gesture that support his larger compositions.