Anthony Frederick Augustus Sandys English Pre-Raphaelite painter, illustrator and draftsman, Date of Birth: 01.05.1829 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Anthony Frederick Augustus Sands
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career and Recognition
4. Personal Life
5. Legacy

Biography of Anthony Frederick Augustus Sands

Anthony Frederick Augustus Sands, known as Frederic Sandys, was an English painter, illustrator, and draftsman who primarily painted portraits and works in the genre of mythological painting.

Early Life and Education

Frederic Sandys, born Antonio Frederic Augustus Sands on May 1, 1829, in Norwich, Norfolk, received his first drawing lessons from his father, who was an artist himself. In 1846, Sandys, who showed exceptional abilities, followed his father's advice and enrolled in the Norwich School of Design, where he gained recognition for his caricature of John Everett Millais' painting "Sir Isumbras" in 1857. In the parody, titled "A Nightmare," Sandys replaced the horse with a donkey marked with the letters "J. R., Oxon" (J. R. - John Ruskin, Oxon - Oxford), while Millais sat on top in knightly armor, and two small children depicted Millais' Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood companions Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Holman Hunt. Surprisingly, Sandys and Rossetti became close friends, and Sandys even lived in Rossetti's house in Chelsea for a time. Many of Sandys' paintings were strongly influenced by Rossetti, who later accused him of plagiarism.

Career and Recognition

In the 1860s, Sandys gained some recognition for his work in periodicals such as "Once a Week," "Cornhill Magazine," and "Good Words." His illustrations, which were never published in books but only in magazines, are highly valued by collectors today. During the same period, his paintings began to appear in galleries. Some of his most famous works include "Vivien" (1863), "Morgan le Fay" (1864), "Cassandra," and "Medea" (1868). However, Sandys, who dedicated little time to painting, never achieved fame as an artist during his lifetime. He always struggled with financial difficulties, partly due to his excessive drinking.

Personal Life

At the age of 27, Sandys married Georgiana Creed, but their marriage only lasted three years, although they never officially divorced. He spent the rest of his life with actress Mary Jones, known as Miss Clive, who became known as "Mrs. Sandys" and bore him ten children. Sandys passed away in London in 1904.

Legacy

Today, Sandys' paintings and drawings can be found in many renowned museums, including the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Manchester Art Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the museums in Norwich, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Sandys is considered one of the most talented Pre-Raphaelites. His favorite subjects included the legends of the Arthurian cycle ("Morgan le Fay") and Norse mythology ("Valkyrie"), and he was also the author of several portraits of famous individuals, including Tennyson and Browning.