Virginia Woolf (née Stephen); Leonard Sidney Woolf

Sittersback to top

• Leonard Sidney Woolf (1880-1969), Writer and publisher. Sitter in 7 portraits.
• Virginia Woolf (née Stephen) (1882-1941), Novelist and critic; sister of Vanessa Bell. Sitter in 62 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Gisèle Freund (1912-2000). Artist of 6 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The novelist with her husband Leonard, author, publisher and political worker. They were photographed at their house in Tavistock Square on 24 June 1939. According to Freund, Virginia Woolf had agreed to the sitting after seeing slides of other writers she had photographed. Virginia Woolf's diary, by contrast, indicates that she was annoyed at being compelled by good manners to accede to the sitting having refused Freund on two previous occasions. The photographs were however admired by Leonard Woolf in 1946.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 677
• Spalding, Frances, Insights: The Bloomsbury Group, 2005, p. 39

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Couples
• Double portraits
• Pets and animals