Charles de Sousy Ricketts. Artist, illustrator, author. Half French he was born in Geneva and brought up in Switzerland, London, France. He met his life partner, Charles Shannon, on his 16th birthday.
Together they founded an art magazine, The Dial, and designed and illustrated books, including some of Oscar Wilde's work. They also formed an art collection which they left mainly to the British Museum and the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge.
Spent the last years of his life looking after Shannon who had damaged his brain in a fall. Died at home, Townshend House, Albert Road, Regent's Park.
The portrait was painted by Shannon in 1891.
