The painting “Flaming June” by Frederick, Lord Leighton, has experienced varying levels of appreciation since it was first displayed 128 years ago, as traced by Carla Passino.
“Flaming June,” once praised by Samuel Courtauld as the finest painting in existence, fell out of fashion to such an extent that by the 1960s, its ornate frame was considered more valuable than the artwork itself and was sold separately. This would have shocked its creator, Lord Leighton, since when it debuted at the Royal Academy in 1895, the depiction of a woman in a vibrant orange dress was widely celebrated. The painting, which is thought to delve into the link between sleep and death, was originally purchased by William Luson Thomas, the founder of “The Graphic,” but then disappeared from public view in the 1930s. Rediscovered during a building renovation in 1962 without its frame, it was later noticed by Andrew Lloyd Webber in a London shop priced at £30 (or £60, according to some reports). Webber couldn’t afford it, though, and despite being bought by art dealer Jeremy Maas, no museums or private collectors were initially interested.
The painting’s fortunes turned when Luis Ferré, the founder of the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico, acquired it for £2,000 – an amount equivalent to today’s £35,000. This investment proved wise, as “Flaming June” is now one of the Victorian era’s most famous paintings and Leighton’s most renowned work, valued at several millions. Its worth, much like tastes in art, is still debated today.
Now, “Flaming June” is temporarily back in the UK. After earthquakes in 2020 damaged its long-term residence at Puerto Rico’s Museo de Arte de Ponce, the painting is currently on a global tour. It is on view at London’s Royal Academy from February 17 to January 12, 2025. Admission is free and no reservation is required.
For more details and viewing times, visit royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/flaming-june.
