Miranda

This is a long-lost drawing which was well known in its day. It was reproduced by Herbert Horne in the Century Guild Hobby Horse, one of the most influential organs of the Arts and Crafts movement, and again in the Studio at the time of Sandys's death. It belonged to James Anderson Rose, a solicitor with an office off the Strand and a house on Wandsworth Common. Rose knew many of the Pre-Raphaelites and formed a fine collection of their work, as well as sharing their enthusiasm for blue and white Chinese porcelain. His posthumous sale at Christie's included fourteen drawings by Sandys. Miranda was probably one of two added at the last minute since they have 'a' and 'b' numbers and the entries are hand-written in the catalogue.

Sandys's habit was to make a composition drawing, then trace it onto a support as the basis for a painting when he had a prospective buyer in view. In the case of the Miranda drawing, there is a related painting dating from about 1867-8 (private collection; exh. Frederick Sandys, Brighton and Sheffield, 1974, no.70, repr. in cat. pl. 41). The painting corresponds closely to the drawing in size and reproduces all its main elements, although the girl's features are a little softer in the painting. The model was Mary Emma Jones (see lot 57).

We are grateful to Betty Elzea for her help in preparing this entry. The drawing will appear in her forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Sandys's work.