Frederick Sandys (1829-1904) Gentle Spring
Gallery 56, English Nineteenth Century Art, Second Floor

The Artist - Frederick Sandys

Sandys was born in Norwich, the son of a minor artist, and studied with his father. He won medals from the Society of Arts, and settled in London in 1851. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in that year, and thereafter sent work regularly. After publishing a gentle caricature of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1857, he met Rossetti, becoming a close friend. Their friendship came to an end, however, in 1869, when Rossetti accused Sandys of plagiarism. During this period, Sandys made numerous paintings, which were highly detailed in the manner of the early Pre-Raphaelites, but with poetic and occasionally erotic subjects. At this time Sandys was also much in demand as a book illustrator, producing work for leading periodicals such as Once a Week and the Cornhill Magazine. His illustrations of the poetry of Christina Rossetti are particularly successful. In the 1880s, he began to concentrate on making large drawings in coloured chalk, inspired by the example of Rossetti. He continued to make portraits until the end of his life.