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Leighton House Museum re-opens to the public on 3 April 2010 following extensive restoration and refurbishment. Located on the edge of Holland Park in Kensington, the house is one of the most remarkable buildings of the 19th century.

The house was the former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist, Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). Built to designs by George Aitchison, it was extended and embellished over a period of 30 years to create a private palace of art.

The Arab Hall is the centerpiece of the house. Designed to display Leighton's priceless collection of over a thousand Islamic tiles, mostly brought back from Damascus in Syria, the interior evokes a compelling vision of the Orient.

The opulence continues through the other richly decorated interiors, with gilded ceilings and walls lined with peacock blue tiles by the ceramic artist William De Morgan. On the first floor is Leighton's grand painting studio with its great north window, dome and apse.

Closer To Home: Leighton's Collection Returned
The house reopens with a special exhibition of Leighton’s own collection of paintings, which have been brought together for the reopening including important loans from the National Gallery and Tate.

The collection includs works by many of his contemporaries such as Edward Burne-Jones, John Everett Millais, George Frederic Watts and Giovanni Costa. Many of the paintings will be hanging in their original positions for the first time since the collection was dispersed in 1896.

The paintings exhibition is on view until 12 July. A documentary film and photographic exhibition on the refurbishment process by Fredrique Cifuentes will be on view in the Winter Studio until 20 June. More information on Leighton House Museum including visiting hours, admission, and directions is available online.

Copyright © 1998-2010 The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Photos: Justin Barton. Courtesy of Leighton House Museum, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea