Victorian Treasures from Cecil French and Scott Thomas Buckle

A range of incredible Victorian treasures are on show at Leighton House this summer, combining two very different - but equally important – collections and showcasing unseen works.  

Victorian Treasures from the Cecil French Bequest showcases a curated selection of 21 paintings by Victorian masters from the extraordinary collection of artist and collector Cecil French which was bequeathed to the public after his death. 

French’s oil painting collection will be juxtaposed with a collection of works on paper from the same period but acquired much later. Art historian Scott Thomas Buckle began collecting artworks in the 1980s, with a particular interest in 19th century British drawings and the models that featured in prominent works by Pre-Raphaelites and artists of the Aesthetic movement. 

The collection encompasses a variety of techniques and styles employed by the Victorians and explores how their drawing practice relates to their wider body of work, establishing a dialogue with paintings in the museum’s own collection and in the Cecil French display.

Highlights include drawings by leading artists of the period, such as John Everett Millais, John William Waterhouse and Lawrence Alma-Tadema, and many will be unveiled for the first time for public enjoyment and shown in the Tavalozza Drawings Gallery.

The exhibition runs from May 15 – September 21, 2025 at the Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London, W14 8LZ, United Kingdom.

To learn more, click here. 

For more events and exhibitions, please visit the ARC Calendar.