James Mathews Leigh (1808 – 20 April 1860) was an English art educator, painter, writer, dramatist and critic. He is best known as the founder of a popular private art school in London known as "Leigh's Academy", which eventually became the present day Heatherley School of Fine Art.[1][2]
Leigh was born in London in 1808, the son of Samuel Leigh,[3] a well-known bookseller who ran a shop at 18 The Strand, near the Adelphi Theatre London - William Blake was apparently a frequent visitor.[4] James's uncle was the popular actor and theatre manager Charles Mathews ("the elder"). He studied art under William Etty,[5] deciding to make historical painting his speciality. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1830 with two paintings, Joseph presenting his Brethren to Pharaoh and Jephthah's vow.
Soon afterwards, he went on a tour of the continent, visiting galleries in France, Germany and Italy to study the works of the Old Masters and make sketches.[3] Around this time also he devoted himself to writing, and, in 1838, privately published Cromwell an historical play in five acts,[6] and later The Rhenish Album. He then travelled to Spain where he made further sketches,[3] resuming, on his return to England, work as a painter, and continuing to send paintings of sacred subjects and portraits to the Royal Academy and other exhibitions up to 1849.[2]
In his last twenty years, Leigh exhibited no work at any of the recognised exhibitions, instead showing it on the walls of his art academy. He was also in the habit of sketching the same subjects - often of themes from literature - as his students in their drawing classes.[2][3]
Leigh had been a heavy pipe smoker throughout his life and developed cancer of the throat.[12] He died shortly afterwards in London on 20 April 1860 and was buried on the western side of Highgate Cemetery. His son, Henry Sambrooke Leigh (1837–1883) was a writer and dramatist. After his death, the running of Leigh's art school was taken over by Thomas Heatherley and the school renamed (as was the fashion) "Heatherley's Art School".[2]
Referencesedit
^History of Heatherley's 9 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
^The Biograph and Review Volume IV For the Second Six Months of 1880 [1880], E.W.Allen
^"Photographs related to Holroyds gallery and photographic studio". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/. The National Archives. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
james, mathews, leigh, 1808, april, 1860, english, educator, painter, writer, dramatist, critic, best, known, founder, popular, private, school, london, known, leigh, academy, which, eventually, became, present, heatherley, school, fine, portrait, henry, stacy. James Mathews Leigh 1808 20 April 1860 was an English art educator painter writer dramatist and critic He is best known as the founder of a popular private art school in London known as Leigh s Academy which eventually became the present day Heatherley School of Fine Art 1 2 Portrait by Henry Stacy Marks Contents 1 Life and work 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksLife and work editLeigh was born in London in 1808 the son of Samuel Leigh 3 a well known bookseller who ran a shop at 18 The Strand near the Adelphi Theatre London William Blake was apparently a frequent visitor 4 James s uncle was the popular actor and theatre manager Charles Mathews the elder He studied art under William Etty 5 deciding to make historical painting his speciality He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1830 with two paintings Joseph presenting his Brethren to Pharaoh and Jephthah s vow Soon afterwards he went on a tour of the continent visiting galleries in France Germany and Italy to study the works of the Old Masters and make sketches 3 Around this time also he devoted himself to writing and in 1838 privately published Cromwell an historical play in five acts 6 and later The Rhenish Album He then travelled to Spain where he made further sketches 3 resuming on his return to England work as a painter and continuing to send paintings of sacred subjects and portraits to the Royal Academy and other exhibitions up to 1849 2 nbsp Grave of James Mathews Leigh in Highgate Cemetery However Leigh is now better known as a teacher of drawing than as an artist In 1848 he founded an academy of art Leigh s Academy at 79 Newman Street 7 off Oxford Street in London It was well attended and became a formidable rival to the other main London art academy run by Henry Sass Sass s Academy 2 He was said to be a first rate teacher and a profound critic in matters of art Many distinguished artists received their early training at Leigh s academy including Sir Frederic Leighton Sir John Millais Philip Hermogenes Calderon Henry Stacy Marks Edward Poynter Joseph Boehm 8 Edwin Long Henry Holiday Frederick Walker John Bagnold Burgess Walter Goodman 9 Thomas Holroyd 10 and others 11 In his last twenty years Leigh exhibited no work at any of the recognised exhibitions instead showing it on the walls of his art academy He was also in the habit of sketching the same subjects often of themes from literature as his students in their drawing classes 2 3 Leigh had been a heavy pipe smoker throughout his life and developed cancer of the throat 12 He died shortly afterwards in London on 20 April 1860 and was buried on the western side of Highgate Cemetery His son Henry Sambrooke Leigh 1837 1883 was a writer and dramatist After his death the running of Leigh s art school was taken over by Thomas Heatherley and the school renamed as was the fashion Heatherley s Art School 2 References edit History of Heatherley s Archived 9 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine a b c d e Leigh James Mathews Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 a b c d Obituary of J L Leigh The Art Journal London 1 July 1860 p200 Gerald Eades Bentley The Blake records Clarendon P 1969 p264 Leonard Robinson William Etty the life and art McFarland 2007 p144 Cromwell An historical play in five acts London Leigh amp Son 1838 Stuart MacDonald The history and philosophy of art education James Clarke amp Co 2004 p73 Joseph Boehm Answers com The Biograph and Review Volume IV For the Second Six Months of 1880 1880 E W Allen Photographs related to Holroyds gallery and photographic studio discovery nationalarchives gov uk The National Archives Retrieved 25 April 2021 Tinsley 1900 pp 193 4 Tinsley 1900 p195 Further reading editWilliam Tinsley Random recollections of an old publisher volume 1 London Simpkin Marshall Hamilton Kent amp co 1900 pp 189 201 External links editJ M Leigh on Artnet Engraving of a portrait by Leigh National Portrait Gallery London Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Leigh James Mathews Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Mathews Leigh amp oldid 1217862742, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
