LESLIE WARD Artist (Spy): Biography – Prints for Sale – Auction prices – Google Gallery – On Wikipedia - 17 works on ArtUK in public collections
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward (1851-1922) was a portrait artist and caricaturist whose portraits of the great and the good were regularly published in Vanity Fair over a period of 40 years. These totalled nearly 1,500 in all and, as framed prints, are now highly collectable. The artist always signed himself as SPY so that his portraits are now generally referred to as SPY cartoons. In fact, his earlier work was more cartoonish than his later sketches. As he became better known he presumably did not wish to offend his mostly important Society subjects, especially as he supplemented his income with private portraits. About 300 of his original watercolours from Vanity Fair are now in the National Portrait Gallery.
Leslie Ward was one of eight children of the artists Edward Matthew Ward and Henrietta Ward who themselves were also descended from major artists including the celebrated animal painter James Ward and the engraver and miniature painter George Raphael Ward.
Not perhaps surprisingly, Leslie Ward showed artistic talent at a very early age, even whilst he was still at Eton. His father, however, tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to become an architect. But eventually, his father agreed to send him to the Royal Academy Schools for artistic training in 1871.
Subsequently, Ward secured a post as resident artist with Vanity Fair, replacing Carlo Pellegrini who had temporarily fallen out with the editor. Thus started an association that lasted over 40 years. Ward reportedly received £300-400 for each portrait. Ward’s last portrait for Vanity Fair appeared in June 1911. The artist died in London on May 15th 1922 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
There is a strong demand at auction for Leslie Ward’s work including his watercolours, engravings and prints. His watercolours have been known to fetch from US$1,100 up to US$4,500 while his more readily available prints fetch up to US$150 or more, depending on rarity.
Leslie Ward prices at auction with acknowledgement to Findartinfo.
Leslie Ward profile on Wikipedia including photo of the artist.
Leslie Ward: Gallery of work on Google Images
Leslie Ward on ArtUK: showing 17 of his artworks in public collections
Heritage Art – Artismus247 – January 22nd 2020. Your comments by email please to the author of this piece: jameskt22@aol.com