'Flaming June'

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Painting details

Title: 'Flaming June'
Date: c.1895
Media: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 121 x 121 cm
Location: Museo De Arte Ponce, Puerto Rico
Picture credit: Courtesy of Leighton House Museum, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (illustrated from a photogravure)

Interpretation

After the painting was exhibited in 1895, the female figure in 'Flaming June' was criticised for her impossible pose and ill proportioned figure. However, commenting on the painting, Alice Corkran was more complimentary: "The foreshortened attitude of the girl presented difficulties which he met and conquered in the splendid studies which he made for this picture." [Corkran, Alice, 'Frederic Leighton', Methuen & Co., London, 1904, p.102]

Provenance

Collection of Mrs James Watney; collection of Hon. Mrs Charles Lyell; on loan to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1915-30; J. S. Maas and Co. (art dealers); purchased by Museo De Arte Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1963

Bibliography

• Barrington, Mrs. Russell, 'The Life, Letters and Work of Frederic, Lord Leighton', George Allen, London, 1906, volume II, p.262-263
• Jones, Stephen, et al., 'Frederic Leighton (1830-1896)', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1996, p.194, catalogue number 121
• Newall, Christopher, 'The Art of Lord Leighton', Phaidon Press Ltd., London, 1990, p.136, 137, 138, illustrated on p.134, compositional drawing p.96, 137
• Ormond, LeonTe and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.91, 1

Exhibition history

• 1895, Royal Academy, catalogue number 195
• 04 January 1897 to 13 March 1897, 'Exhibition of Works be the Late Lord Leighton of Stretton President of the Royal Academy: Winter Exhibition', The Royal Academy of Arts, London, catalogue number 75
• 1930, Leighton House, catalogue number 9