About The Artist - Lord Frederick Leighton
(03 December 1830 - 25 January, 1896) |
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Frederick Leighton was a British painter who was awarded the
Prix de Rome, and Légion d'honneur. |
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About
The Painting - Flaming June |
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Flaming June was painted
by Lord Frederick Leighton using only oil paints on a square
canvas of 47" x 47". Considered as Leighton's masterpiece
and the jewel amongst all his paintings, Flaming June portrayed
his philosophy and brought to the forefront his classical
nature of painting. |
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A rousing figure of
a dainty woman in repose clad in a flimsy and flowing flaming
red dress makes for a striking impression that fills the viewer
with many inexplicable feelings. |
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The name of the painting
is well balanced with the colors used especially the flaming
mix of orange and red, which makes the figurine of the woman
stand out. It almost seems life like because of the combination
of bright colors in the foreground and creates a contrast
with the light colors in the background. |
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The theme of Flaming
June is somewhere taken from the various interpretations of
the Greek goddess Venus in a sleeping posture in flattering
innocence and in a strange posture that is neither completely
reclining nor sitting up. The posture by itself highlights
Leighton's classic composition and philosophy that resembles
a woman at her alluring best. |
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One of the remarkable
highlights of the painting is the hues of red and orange used.
The dark color of the woman's hair matches the color of the
bed sheet and the distinctive boldness of orange has been
used for her garb. |
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The painting would have
been lost to the world forever but thanks to a Puerto Rican
it was saved. Luis A. Ferre, an industrialist bought it from
a gallery in Amsterdam and displayed it in the Ponce Museum
of Art. Till date the painting is proudly displayed at the
Ponce Museum of Art. |
