Leonard French

Who is Leonard French?

Leonard William French OBE is an Australian artist, known principally for major stained glass works.

French was born in Brunswick, Victoria to a family of Cornish origin. His stained glass creations include a series of panels in the cafe and foyer of the National Library of Australia in Canberra, and a stained glass ceiling for the great hall at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, which is one of the largest in the world.

Another important piece of work French created was in seven panels, The Legend of Sinbad the Sailor, in 1956. It hung in the Legend Cafe in Melbourne.

In 1987, French completed a major commission for the Haileybury Chapel in Melbourne, including dozens of stained glass mosaic windows of varying shapes and sizes and a large reredos.

He has held more than 40 solo exhibitions in Australia, and been part of many group exhibitions outside Australia.

French currently resides and continues to paint in his studio in Heathcote, Victoria.

He has been married three times, and has seven children and five grandchildren.