Lord Leighton’s private palace of art is restored to the public

The Holland Park home of Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton, is to reopen at Easter after a £1.6 million refurbishment.

Leighton House, a studio-property commissioned by the artist and developed over the 30 years he lived there, was regarded as his "private palace of art".

The dome of the central Arab Hall has been regilded to appear as it was when Leighton conceived it as a dramatic feature decorated with his collection of Moorish tiles.

It is owned by the borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the reopening exhibition will see the return of more than 20 paintings from Leighton's collection to hang in their original locations for the first time since 1896.

The public will also have access to the back of the house for the first time. Leighton House Museum opens on 3 April with a £5 admission charge.