Anthony Frederick Augustus Sandys (British, 1829-1904)


Portrait of May Gillilan signed 'F. Sandys' (on a small strip of paper, attached to the backboard)coloured chalks and pencil37.5 x 28cm (14 3/4 x 11in).
|Provenance William Gillilan Collection, UK.Anon. sale, Woolley and Wallis, Salisbury, 15 April 1996, lot 85. Anon. sale, Bonhams, London, 19 March 1997, lot 106.The Maas Gallery Ltd., London.Private collection, UK.ExhibitedLondon, Maas Gallery, British Pictures (1840-1940), October - December 1998, no. 39.LiteratureBetty Elzea, Frederick Sandys 1829-1904 A Catalogue Raisonné, 2001, Suffolk, no. 4.27, p. 267-268 (illustrated p. 267).Portrait of May Gillilan was originally signed, dated and inscribed by the artist "May & Winnie Gillilan:1882./F. Sandys" upper right. Two little girls were portrayed half-length, both wearing identical dresses with wide broderie anglaise collars. The sitters were the two elder daughters of William Gillilan of 6 Palace Gate, Kensington. Sandys also painted the younger sister Christabel catalogue number 4.59. In addition to commissioning portraits Gillilan owned a number of other works by Sandys; for example The Tangled Skein (Ferens Art Gallery, Kingston upon Hull), Helen of Troy (untraced), Poppies (The National Trust. Wightwick Manor), and Proud Maisie, XII (National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa). The present lot has been reduced in size prior to 1998, showing only May, previously on the left of the composition.