Conclusion
Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna was purchased in a particular moment which lends itself to further investigation. It aligned with the British monarchy’s potential destabilization, and was undoubtedly wrapped up in political undercurrents, due to the very specific associations Renaissance art had with intellect and rebirth, and the very extreme political predicaments Britain was facing at the time. For Leighton, Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna was intended to create a name for himself as a young emerging artist. Although he eventually became President of the Royal Academy, he has been dismissed by scholars and even some contemporaries for adhering to the unpopular academic tradition. It is unfortunate that Leighton’s reputation and legacy has deteriorated, especially considering his lofty artistic ambitions at the beginning of his career, and the jumpstart he received from Victoria’s purchase. With this capstone, I sought to remedy his reputation, and prove that his work was not stale and outdated, but was actually incredibly and modernly attuned with Victorian trends in the wake of incredible fervor for the Renaissance. Following the fairly recent reevaluation of Leighton, this capstone sought to prove that Leighton does indeed fall within the confines of modern art. While Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna may seem antiquated and traditional, Leighton was demonstrating that he was incredibly perceptive to contemporaneous debates swirling throughout Britain. His knowledge of the Victorian art scene was a strategically deliberate way to make a name for himself, and carve out a niche for his work within the art scene, relying on the fashionable trend of the Renaissance.
To return to Victoria’s quote, she mentioned that Leighton’s career depended on the success of Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna. I believe that this purchase was twofold; for Victoria, not only would it bring fame and success to Leighton, but would also create a positive reputation for herself through her collecting practice. It is uncertain whether or not Victoria and Albert’s purchase of Cimabue’s Celebrated Madonna actually uplifted public opinion and confidence in the British monarchy. Because of Victoria’s history of attempting to shape and guide public opinion, one can assume the purchase undeniably contributed to this mission, and helped shape Victoria’s reputation as an intellectual and fashionable figure.