Frederic Leighton (1830-1896) was a British Victorian artist who was extremely popular during his lifetime, but later fell out of favor. Flaming June (1895), now considered to be his greatest work, was rediscovered in the 1960s and praised for its embodiment of the ‘art for art’s sake’ philosophy. It depicts a young woman on a terrace enjoying an outdoor nap on a hot summer day, the sea glistening behind her. Her bright orange dress, burgundy shawl, and red hair all blur together into a swirl of warmth in the center of the composition, exuding the calm joy of a midsummer day.

Learn more about the work that inspired this pin HERE.