Leighton House Museum

This 19th century house, the former studio and home of artist Frederick, Lord Leighton (1830-1896) is located on the edge of Holland Park in Kensington, London. It is arguably the best example of a late nineteenth century artist's workspace open to the public in the UK. Building began in 1864, from the designs of architect George Aitchison and the house was constantly embellished by Leighton until his death in 1896. The Arab Hall of 1877 is decorated with hundreds of sixteenth and seventeenth century priceless ceramic tiles from Damascus, Syria, and inlaid with Egyptian woodwork. Other equally important decorations include tiles by the ceramic artist William De Morgan. After Leighton's death, the house became a museum in 1900 and is administered by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Cecil French Bequest which forms an important group within the museum comprising a collection of paintings and drawing donated by French of the works of Pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne-Jones