Frederick Leighton. Watercolour drawing over pencil. Full length portrait of Baron Frederick Leighton. For Vanity Fair Issue (M) 191. 'A sacrifice to the Graces.' Men of the Day. No. 46, June 29, 1872. This sketch conveys the urbane elegance of Frederick Leighton (1830-96) shown at one of London's round of social engagements. The charismatic Leighton had networked energetically with artists and patrons throughout the 1850s. In 1865 he made the ground breaking move to Holland Park, where the Melbury Road Artists' colony was soon established. He entertained lavishly and held noted musical soirées; these occasions helped promote him further in the world of art and fashion.
