Alphonse Legros (1837-1911)
'Portrait Study of Constantine Alexander Ionides'
About 1870
Pencil, touched with red chalk  
Museum no. CAI 1158
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides

In 1863 the French artist Alphonse Legros was encouraged to come to London by his friend James McNeill Whistler, who introduced him to the Ionides family. Constantine became a friend and was, over many years, one of Legros' greatest patrons. Legros in turn became Constantine's trusted advisor, exerting a profound influence over the development of Ionides' collection.