ANTHONY FREDERICK AUGUSTUS SANDYS | La Belle Jaune Giroflée

W. Kerchow;
Christie's, London, 19 February 1876, lot 864;
John Postle Heseltine (1843-1929), 196 Queens Gate, London;
Dobiaschofsky Auktionen, Bern, 12 November 2010, lot 403

Drawings and Paintings by Artists of Norfolk and Suffolk in the Collection of J.P.H., 1914, illustrated no.23;
Betty Elzea, Frederick Sandys 1829-1904. A catalogue raisonné, 2001, p.198, cat.no. 2.A.125, illustrated p.198

The following condition report was prepared by Hamish Dewar Ltd; UNCONDITIONAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE Structural Condition The artist's panel is providing an even and stable structural support. Paint Surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. There is a network of fine lines of craquelure visible throughout the background. There are also some fine lines of craquelure within the sitter's hairline and a very fine pattern of craquelure within her clothing. This is stable and is attributable to natural drying processes of the artist's materials. Inspection under ultraviolet light shows an opaque varnish layer which prevents the ultraviolet light from fully penetrating. Inspection under ultraviolet light also shows a few fine lines of retouching corresponding the craquelure pattern within the background, a few small retouchings on the left part of the upper edge, a very small spot on the top of the sitter's forehead and a few very fine lines of retouching within the hairline of the sitter. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in good and stable condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The title derives from the yellow wall-flowers in this beautiful study of a girl named Marianne Shingles (later Mrs George Lewis 1855-1933), a Norfolk silk-weaver whose family lived across Grapes Hill from the artist's house at North Walsham. It was Frederick Sandy's talented sister Emma, who first asked Marianne to pose and she continued to be Emma's model until the artist's death in 1877. She seems to have only posed for Frederick Sandys on two more occasions, for a drawing entitled Head of A Young Woman made c.1869 and Hero of 1871.