Elena Rossi
William Leighton Leitch (1804–1883) was a prolific Scottish landscape watercolour painter and illustrator. He was also the Drawing Master to Queen Victoria and the royal family for 22 years. Leitch's works are known for their graceful composition and pure colour, and they often featured landscapes and nature. Due to his mastery of the medium, Leitch's paintings are highly valued and sought after. So, what is a painting by William Leighton Leitch worth?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Leighton Leitch |
| Birth Date | 2 November 1804 |
| Death Date | 25 April 1883 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Art Speciality | Landscape watercolour painting and illustration |
| Art Characteristics | Graceful composition, pure colour, and brilliant effects of atmosphere |
| Notable Roles | Drawing Master to Queen Victoria and the royal family, Vice President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours |
| Notable Works | Mountain Landscape with Figures (1858), A Parkland View at Dusk (1879), Scottish Romantic Landscape (1841), Belphoebe & Amorett |
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What You'll Learn
William Leighton Leitch's career
Born in Glasgow in 1804, William Leighton Leitch began his career as an apprentice to a local sign painter. He then worked as a scene painter, first at the Glasgow Royal Theatre and later in London at the Queen's Theatre and the Pavilion. During this time, he travelled to Italy, Sicily, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Venice, gaining experience and amassing a large body of sketches and watercolours.
In 1832, Leitch exhibited two drawings at the Society of British Artists. He returned to London in 1837, devoting himself to teaching and working in watercolours. He had great success as a teacher, counting several members of aristocratic families and, later, Queen Victoria and her family among his pupils. He was introduced to the Queen by Lady Canning and served as her Drawing Master for 22 years.
Leitch was a master of his art, which was based on a profound study of nature and the great masters, especially Turner in his prime. His works are marked by graceful composition, pure colour, and brilliant effects of atmosphere. He illustrated several books with engravings from his drawings, including the Rev. Robert Walsh's "Constantinople and the Turkish Empire" (1838) and George Newenham Wright's "The Rhine, Italy and Greece" (1840).
In 1862, Leitch was elected to the New Society of Painters in Watercolours, serving as its vice president for twenty years. He exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1833 and 1861. A posthumous exhibition of his work was organised by the Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1883. Leitch passed away in London in 1883.
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Leitch's influence and legacy
William Leighton Leitch was a master Scottish landscape watercolour painter and illustrator. He was also a draughtsman. Leitch was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1804 and died in London, England, in 1883. He was the son of a soldier who had previously been a sailor. Leitch began his artistic career as an apprentice to a local sign painter and then worked as a scene painter at the Glasgow Royal Theatre. He also travelled to Italy, where he gained experience and amassed a large body of sketches and watercolours. Leitch was a master of his art, which was based on a profound study of nature and of the great masters, especially Turner in his prime. His works are marked by their graceful composition, their pure colour, and the brilliant effects of atmosphere.
Leitch exhibited two drawings at the Society of British Artists in 1832 and then travelled to the continent in 1833, passing through the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland to Italy. In Venice, he met and became friends with the Hungarian painter Miklós Barabás. They toured and painted in the Lago Maggiore region in 1834, and Leitch was a great influence on Barabás's future work. After an absence of four years, during which he supported himself mainly by teaching and sketching in Italy and Sicily, Leitch returned to London in 1837. He devoted himself almost entirely to teaching and working in watercolours and had great success as a teacher, counting many members of the aristocracy among his pupils.
Leitch was introduced to Queen Victoria by Lady Canning and became the Drawing Master to her majesty and the royal family for 22 years. He also served as the Vice President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours for 20 years, from 1864 until his death. A posthumous collection of his works was exhibited at the Institute of Painters in Water Colours' gallery in Piccadilly. Leitch's eldest son, Robert, was also a watercolour painter, but he died in 1882, a year before his father.
Leitch's works have been auctioned and exhibited in galleries, and he has left a legacy as one of the master Scottish landscape painters and illustrators of his time. His proficiency in his craft and his role in mentoring other artists, including royalty, have secured his influence and impact on the art world, particularly in the realm of watercolour painting and illustration.
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Techniques and style
William Leighton Leitch was a master Scottish landscape watercolour painter and illustrator. His art was based on a profound study of nature and the great masters, especially Turner in his prime. Leitch's works are marked by graceful composition, pure colour, and brilliant effects of atmosphere. He was also skilled in steel engraving, as seen in his work "View of the Sala Regia in the Vatican Palace in Rome", which was created using this technique.
Leitch's artistic style was influenced by his time in Italy, where he studied nature and Renaissance art in the 1830s. He also began tutoring British tourists during this period, which helped to refine his teaching skills. When he was introduced to Queen Victoria in 1846, he gave her a lesson on the principles of composition, light and shade, and colour, which significantly influenced her painting style and understanding of watercolour technique. Leitch's name occurs frequently in Queen Victoria's journal, indicating the high regard she had for him.
Leitch's paintings often featured landscapes and natural scenes, such as his work "A Parkland View at Dusk", which is now exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This drawing showcases his skilled use of watercolour to create a naturalistic landscape. Bold shadows from the late-day sun stretch across the landscape, with deft touches of green, brown, blue, and ochre watercolour creating a parkland lined with ancient trees. The slightly rough texture of the woven paper adds to the sense of atmosphere, giving presence to the air.
Leitch's talent extended beyond watercolour and steel engraving, as he also excelled in illustration. He illustrated several books with engravings from his drawings, including Rev. Robert Walsh's "Constantinople and the Turkish Empire" (1838) and George Newenham Wright's "The Rhine, Italy, and Greece" (1840). Leitch's illustrations brought these texts to life, capturing the beauty and essence of the places described.
Leitch's dedication to his craft and his ability to capture the beauty of nature and architecture in his artworks have left a lasting legacy in the art world. His works continue to be admired and exhibited, providing inspiration for artists and enthusiasts alike.
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Themes and subjects
William Leighton Leitch (1804–1883) was a master Scottish landscape watercolour painter and illustrator. He was also a drawing master to Queen Victoria and the royal family for 22 years. Leitch's work was based on a profound study of nature and of the great masters, especially Turner in his prime. His paintings are marked by graceful composition, pure colour, and the brilliant effects of atmosphere.
Leitch began his career as an apprentice to a local sign painter and then worked as a scene painter at the Glasgow Royal Theatre. He travelled extensively through Europe, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and
Leitch's paintings often depicted the landscapes and architecture of the places he visited. For example, his painting 'View of the Sala Regia in the Vatican Palace in Rome' captures the busy vestibule at the entrance to the Vatican. Leitch also painted several scenes in Scotland, such as 'View of Lake Como' and 'Evening on the Tweed'. He also painted scenes in England, such as 'View from the Terrace, Wray Park Hall, Surrey'.
Leitch occasionally exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1841 and 1861. In 1862, he was elected a member of the Institute of Painters in Watercolours (RI), and he served as the society's vice-president for 20 years.
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Prices and sales
William Leighton Leitch (1804–1883) was a master Scottish landscape watercolour painter and illustrator. He was also the Drawing Master to Queen Victoria and the royal family for 22 years. Leitch's works are known for their graceful composition and pure colour.
Leitch's paintings and artworks are available for sale at various auction houses and galleries, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Royal Academy of Arts, and online platforms like Invaluable and Live Auctioneers. The prices for his artworks vary depending on various factors such as the medium, size, condition, and provenance.
One of Leitch's watercolour paintings, "Mountain Landscape with Figures" (1858), is available for sale online. The painting has minor paint loss on the left edge and some age toning but is framed under glass. It measures 9 x 13 inches (22 x 33 cm) and is signed by the artist in the lower left corner. The frame size is 16 x 19 inches (40 x 48 cm). The asking price for this painting is not listed, but the listing mentions US shipping costs of $49 plus insurance.
Another one of Leitch's watercolour paintings, "Landscape with figures and a cottage by a path, with mountains beyond" is also available. This painting measures 25.5 x 35.2 cm and is a combination of pencil, watercolour, and body colour on paper. It is signed 'W.L. LEITCH' in the lower left corner and is from a private collection in the UK. The price for this artwork is not listed.
A smaller work by Leitch, titled "Near Glasgow," measures 8.7 x 12.5 cm and is executed in pen and black ink on paper. It bears the artist's studio stamp (Lugt 1743) in the lower right corner and is from a private collection in the UK. The price for this piece is also not listed.
Leitch's artworks have been sold at auction houses such as Lyon & Turnbull, Broward Auction Gallery, KCM Galleries, Cheffins, and Hill Auction Gallery. The sold prices for these auctions are not disclosed, but the listings provide details about the artworks, including the medium, size, and provenance. For example, one of the listings mentions a "watercolor painting antique" by Leitch sold at Broward Auction Gallery. Another listing mentions an engraving by Leitch, "Belphoebe & Amorett," framed and signed, sold at KCM Galleries.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the painting. Some of his paintings have been sold at auction for prices that are not disclosed publicly. Here are some of his paintings and their sold prices:
- *Belphoebe & Amorett* engraving – sold price undisclosed
- *Dundrennan Abbey* – sold price undisclosed
- *Small Tower Near Kelso* – sold price undisclosed
- *Mountain Landscape with Figures* (1858) – $49 plus insurance for US shipping
William Leighton Leitch was a master Scottish landscape watercolour painter and illustrator. He also worked with pen and black ink, pencil, bodycolour, and steel engravings.
Leitch's works are marked by graceful composition, pure colour, and brilliant effects of atmosphere. His art was based on a profound study of nature and the great masters, especially Turner in his prime.
Leitch's paintings include *Mountain Landscape with Figures* (1858), *A Parkland View at Dusk* (1879), *Scottish Romantic Landscape* (1841), *Isola Bella from the Isola dei Pescatori, Lake Maggiore* (1865), and *The City of Cologne* (1850).
Leitch's paintings have been exhibited at the Institute of Painters in Water Colours' gallery in Piccadilly, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
