Flaming June
Encyclopedia
Flaming June is a painting by Lord Frederic Leighton
, produced in 1895. Painted with oil paint
s on a 47" x 47" square canvas, it is widely considered to be Leighton's magnum opus
, showing his classicist
nature. It is thought that the woman portrayed alludes to the figures of sleeping nymph
s and naiad
s the Greeks
often sculpted. The (toxic) Oleander
branch in the top right, symbolises the fragile link between sleep and death.
Dorothy Dene
, the actress, and Mary Lloyd, who was depicted in paintings by various Pre-Raphaelite artists, have been variously credited with modeling for the work.
Flaming June was auctioned in the 1960s, during a period of time known to be difficult for selling Victorian era paintings, where it failed to sell for its low reserve price of $140 USD (the equivalent of $840 in contemporary prices). Afterward, it was promptly purchased by the Ponce Museum of Art
in Puerto Rico
where it currently resides (see the following account).
The painting was honored in a song by Paul Weller on his Stanley Road
album and Mexican
singer Luis Miguel in his music video
for the song Amarte es un placer.
It also illustrates the cover of the 1989 album Waltz Darling by Malcolm McLaren
.
— the noted Puerto Rican industrialist and politician
, who would be elected governor
five years later — was on a trip around Europe, engaged in purchasing paintings and sculptures for the Ponce Museum of Art
in Puerto Rico, which he had founded. On a stop in a gallery in Amsterdam
, he and René Taylor found Flaming June abandoned in a corner. They became impressed by the painting's beauty, and asked the owner about it.
The owner said no one was interested in the painting because it was considered too old-fashioned for the time. But he added that if Ferré was interested in it, that he could have it for $10,000. Even though Ferré thought it was expensive (as noted above, it had shortly before been auctioned for much less), they entered into an agreement that Ferré would wire the money for the painting. The man gave his word of not selling it to anyone else.
Antonio Luis Ferré, the industrialist's son, many years later related that his father spent a sleepless night, worried that the gallery owner wouldn't keep his promise. Ferré called him in the morning, assuring him that the money would be wired and asking him to keep his promise - which he did, even though other people had already gone to the gallery and liked the painting.
Thus, Flaming June traveled to the Ponce Museum of Art and was prominently displayed. In later years, it was loaned to important expositions around the world, with the renewal of interest in Victorian art. Flaming June was on display at the Prado, Madrid in 2008 and Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Germany in 2009.
Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton
Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton PRA , known as Sir Frederic Leighton, Bt, between 1886 and 1896, was an English painter and sculptor. His works depicted historical, biblical and classical subject matter...
, produced in 1895. Painted with oil paint
Oil paint
Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the...
s on a 47" x 47" square canvas, it is widely considered to be Leighton's magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, showing his classicist
Classicism
Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for classical antiquity, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. The art of classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained: of the Discobolus Sir Kenneth Clark observed, "if we object to his restraint...
nature. It is thought that the woman portrayed alludes to the figures of sleeping nymph
Nymph
A nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
s and naiad
Naiad
In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades were a type of nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks....
s the Greeks
Art in Ancient Greece
The arts of ancient Greece have exercised an enormous influence on the culture of many countries all over the world, particularly in the areas of sculpture and architecture. In the West, the art of the Roman Empire was largely derived from Greek models...
often sculpted. The (toxic) Oleander
Oleander
Nerium oleander is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, toxic in all its parts. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. It is most commonly known as oleander, from its superficial resemblance to the unrelated olive Olea, but has many other...
branch in the top right, symbolises the fragile link between sleep and death.
Dorothy Dene
Dorothy Dene
Dorothy Dene , born Ada Alice Pullen, was an English stage actress and artist's model for the painter Lord Leighton. Dene was considered to have a classical face and figure and a flawless complexion...
, the actress, and Mary Lloyd, who was depicted in paintings by various Pre-Raphaelite artists, have been variously credited with modeling for the work.
Flaming June was auctioned in the 1960s, during a period of time known to be difficult for selling Victorian era paintings, where it failed to sell for its low reserve price of $140 USD (the equivalent of $840 in contemporary prices). Afterward, it was promptly purchased by the Ponce Museum of Art
Ponce Museum of Art
Museo de Arte de Ponce, or MAP, is an art museum located on Las Americas Avenue in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is considered the finest art museum in Puerto Rico. It houses a collection of European art, as well as work by Puerto Rican artists. The largest art museum in the Caribbean, it has also been...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
where it currently resides (see the following account).
The painting was honored in a song by Paul Weller on his Stanley Road
Stanley Road
-Track listing:Disc 1#"The Changingman" #"Porcelain Gods"#"I Walk on Gilded Splinters" #"You Do Something to Me"#"Woodcutter's Son"#"Time Passes / Steam"#"Stanley Road"#"Broken Stones"#"Out of the Sinking"#"Pink on White Walls"...
album and Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
singer Luis Miguel in his music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song Amarte es un placer.
It also illustrates the cover of the 1989 album Waltz Darling by Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
.
Circumstances of arrival in Puerto Rico
In 1963, Luis A. FerréLuis A. Ferré
Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico...
— the noted Puerto Rican industrialist and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who would be elected governor
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
five years later — was on a trip around Europe, engaged in purchasing paintings and sculptures for the Ponce Museum of Art
Ponce Museum of Art
Museo de Arte de Ponce, or MAP, is an art museum located on Las Americas Avenue in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is considered the finest art museum in Puerto Rico. It houses a collection of European art, as well as work by Puerto Rican artists. The largest art museum in the Caribbean, it has also been...
in Puerto Rico, which he had founded. On a stop in a gallery in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, he and René Taylor found Flaming June abandoned in a corner. They became impressed by the painting's beauty, and asked the owner about it.
The owner said no one was interested in the painting because it was considered too old-fashioned for the time. But he added that if Ferré was interested in it, that he could have it for $10,000. Even though Ferré thought it was expensive (as noted above, it had shortly before been auctioned for much less), they entered into an agreement that Ferré would wire the money for the painting. The man gave his word of not selling it to anyone else.
Antonio Luis Ferré, the industrialist's son, many years later related that his father spent a sleepless night, worried that the gallery owner wouldn't keep his promise. Ferré called him in the morning, assuring him that the money would be wired and asking him to keep his promise - which he did, even though other people had already gone to the gallery and liked the painting.
Thus, Flaming June traveled to the Ponce Museum of Art and was prominently displayed. In later years, it was loaned to important expositions around the world, with the renewal of interest in Victorian art. Flaming June was on display at the Prado, Madrid in 2008 and Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Germany in 2009.
Literature
- Alfred Weidinger: Magnificent Extravagance - Frederic, Lord Leighton's Flaming June, 1894-95. Sleeping Beauty. Masterpieces of Victorian Painting from Museo de Arte de Ponce. Edited by Agnes Husslein-Arco and Alfred Weidinger. Belvedere, Vienna 2010. ISBN 978-3-901508-84-4