About this Event
The Arab Hall, with its beautiful tiles, wooden lattices, gold mosaics and soaring dome, was created by the artist Frederic Leighton and his architect George Aitchison in the late 19th century.
The inspiration for many of its elements can be traced back to Leighton’s travels to Turkey, Egypt, Syria, and to southern Spain where he sketched the landscape, took careful note of the architecture, and shopped for ceramics, textiles, and carpets.
In this talk, Dr Melanie Gibson will revisit some of the places in Leighton’s travels and will investigate how the ideas and objects he collected were combined and displayed at Leighton House; a location as beguiling today as it was when he first showed it to his friends and admirers in 1881.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Dr Melanie Gibson is a trustee of the Friends of Leighton House. She is the editor of the Gingko Art Series and convenes the Islamic Art module of the Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art at SOAS. Since 2005 she has lectured on the ceramics and glass of the Islamic world for SOAS, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Courtauld Institute, and the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar.
Her research focuses on the ceramics and glass of the Islamic world, as well as the reception and use of Islamic pattern in 19th-century British design. She is currently doing research for a book on the Arab Hall.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Melanie-Gibson-2
https://www.gingko.org.uk/
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- A tour of the Arab Hall at Leighton House
- An insight into and tour of Frederic Leighton’s travels around Turkey, Egypt, and Syria from 1857-1877
- An exploration of how his ideas and collections were shaped by his experiences.
- A discussion of Leighton’s conception of the Arab Hall and how George Aitchison, William De Morgan, Walter Crane and others contributed to its planning and construction.
WHAT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH:
- An understanding of how an Arab-style interior came to be created in late Victorian London by the eminent artist and President of the Royal Academy, Frederic Leighton
- An introduction to Middle Eastern decoration such as coloured glass windows (qamariyya), wooden window lattices (mashrabiyya), polychrome tiles from Damascus and Iznik, and ceramic objects from Iznik in Turkey.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Anyone with an interest in Frederic Leighton’s work and travels, Arab-style interiors and Middle Eastern resources in historic interior design
Additional Information
The advertised price does not include VAT.
If you have any queries, please email the office at [email protected] or call 020 7628 0255.
By booking a ticket to this event you are agreeing to the BIID Event Terms and Conditions
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London, United Kingdom
GBP 25.00 to GBP 35.00