Circle of Frederick Sandys

The Circle of Frederick Sandys refers to a group of artists influenced by the British painter and illustrator Frederick Sandys (1829–1904), who was closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Sandys was celebrated for his highly detailed, refined technique and his focus on mythological, literary, and historical subjects. He was a friend and collaborator of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and moved in the same artistic and literary circles, which also included figures like Algernon Charles Swinburne.

Artists in Sandys’s circle adopted many of the stylistic and thematic elements that defined his work—particularly a fascination with intense, often tragic female figures, symbolic compositions, and a rich, vibrant palette. They embraced a realist precision in drawing and a strong narrative quality in their work. While not formally organized, this loosely connected group contributed to the broader Pre-Raphaelite ethos, expanding its influence into the latter half of the 19th century.