Stories
Discover the stories behind our museums with our selection of articles exploring fascinating insights into the lives of Frederic Leighton and Linley Sambourne, and the collections of their artist studio-homes.
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Stories from Leighton House
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Discover how travelling influenced Frederic Leighton's artwork and his unique house.
The remarkable journey of Leighton's most renowned work and icon of High Victorian Art
Find out more about a research project on our tiles collection by Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Cen
Exploring Frederic Leighton's love of music and how his experiences inspired his life and art
Learn more about the most iconic room of Leighton House with expert Melanie Gibson.
Do you know that Leighton's garden retains many of its original ornamental features?
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Stories from Sambourne House
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Watch our series of videos with special guests exploring Victorian life and work at the Sambournes'.
Discover how Sambourne became Chief Cartoonist at the famous satirical magazine
The iconic Morris' design was a favourite of the Sambournes' to decorate their aesthetic house.
Sambourne was an avid photographer and he owned various cameras, including this 'detective' version.
Sambourne spent 9 months on this commission, which was eventually exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Exploring leading dressmakers of the Victorian and Edwardian era through the exhibition,
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Collections stories
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Follow our museum’s curatorial efforts to restore Leighton's original collection.
A unique suite of furniture for the new wing, hand-crafted by master artisans.
The first contemporary artwork commissioned for permanent display by Iranian artist, Shahrzad Ghaffari.
Sarah Hardy, Director of the De Morgan Museum, highlights her favourite De Morgan pieces
A new commission for the new Leighton House
Leighton's 10 metre wide paintings are now on display in the new reception
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Conservation stories
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Watch this fascinating short documentary on the conservation of Marion and Maud's dresses.
An insightful interview with City and Guilds of London Art School
Read the interview and watch the video of this exciting conservation project
Luke Hughes shares the history of recreating Leighton’s bespoke lost furniture
Conservator Jenny Granville discusses her treatment of the mosaic floors of the Arab Hall, Narcissus Hal
Follow our recent restoration and conservation works on the historic interiors
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Artists and neighbours stories
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Artists and neighbours, explore the legacy of their 40 year friendship
Celebrating the women both past and present who have helped to shape the artwork, collections and history of our museums
What did they have in common and what separated them?
Discover more about the community of artists that grew up around Leighton House in the late nineteenth century.
Take our quiz to find out whether you're more of a Frederic Leighton or Linley Sambourne