Early Years

Sandys'
Love Life

Later Years

Introduction

Back to Start

The Bohemian Lifestyle

Sandys was described as "the most entertaining talker I ever met" by one of his patrons and so it is no surprise that he became very popular after moving to London in 1851. He soon threw himself into the life of a man about town - if he was not painting he was attending an endless stream of clubs, dinners, parties and breakfasts.

Sandys became friends with a very flamboyant and bohemian set of people, mainly artists and writers. Centred around Dante Gabriel Rossetti's exotic house in Cheyne Walk, Sandys, Burne-Jones, Whistler, Swinburne and others painted, wrote and partied surrounded by Rossetti's menagerie that included monkeys, peacocks and even a bull! It was around this time that Sandys added the 'y' to his surname in order to add to his glamorous and bohemian reputation.

As well being popular amongst his friends, Sandys was also popular with the public. During the 1850s and 1860s his paintings and illustrations were highly acclaimed and he was one of the most fashionable portrait painters amongst the wealthy middle classes.