ANTHONY FREDERICK AUGUSTUS SANDYS | The Red Cap

Bought from the artist by William Connal Jnr., by whom sold Christie’s, 14 March 1908, lot 79 and bought by Dowdeswell & Dowdeswell, London;
Miss Patricia de Bertodano, by whom sold Sotheby’s, Belgravia, 6 March 1976, lot 35, where purchased by Seymour Stein

Percy Bate, The Studio, October 1904, illustrated p.10;
Betty Elzea, Frederick Sandys - 1829-1904, A Catalogue Raisonnee, 2001, pp.289-290, cat.no.5.42, illustrated p.289

This drawing has not been laid down. The sheet is cockling a little and would benefit from being flattened. The sheet is time-stained at the edges. There are a few small areas of foxing on the girl's shoulder and at the extremities of the sheet which could be removed or covered by remounting. There is a media mark on the girl's shoulder and two areas of discoloured restoration close to the left edge which would benefit from being removed and reapplied. FRAME The drawing is contained in a simple wood and gilt frame with a wooden mount and under glass.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Sandys’ excellent draughtsmanship is demonstrated in this beautiful study of his youngest child Gertrude ‘Girlie’ (1886-1920) who later married Lionel, the son of the artist and designer Walter Crane against parental opposition from both families. This portrait of her dressed in a simple dress with a square neck and a red fisherman’s cap, was drawn when she was fourteen and her adoring father was seventy-one and it is clear that it was his love for her lively personality that rejuvenated Sandys’ later Art. The eponymous cap may have been borrowed from one of the fishermen at Pevensey Bay in Sussex where the Sandys family holidayed around this time.