Friends of Hastings Cemetery

Ionides Family continued

The Ionides family were friends and patrons of many well known 19th century artists.  Constantine Ionides, son of Alexander and brother of Chariclea Dannreuther bought and commissioned works by Rossetti and Millais and eventually bequeathed his collection of old masters as well as 19th century paintings to the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Aglaia Ionides, daughter of Alexander and sister of Chariclea Dannreuther was drawn by Rossetti and was a confidante and correspondent of both Rossetti and William Morris.

His niece, Helen Euphrosyne Ionides (born London, 15 October 1849, d. 08 January 1917; buried in HBC at DB W35) married William Whistler, brother of James McNeil Whistler

Marriage: 17 April 1877, St. George's, Hanover Square and the Greek Church, London Wall, London.

2nd wife of William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900), son of George Washington Whistler and Anna Mathilda McNeill.

'My dear Mr Gamble'

………..
Willie got engaged in January to Helen Ionides and was married on 17 April with Mr. Morris as best man.  [Deborah] helped him get ready for the wedding: and brought her daughter Annie to stay in Hastings for two months.  …………………..

'Yours sincerely & affectionately/Anna M Whistler.'

Another niece, and God-daughter, Maria Zambaco (nee Cassavetti) was romantically involved with Edward Burne-Jones.  The Burne-Jones had earlier visited Hastings after losing a son.

In 1869 she tried to commit suicide by throwing herself and him into the Regent's Canal. The affair rumbled on but Burne-Jones eventually returned to his wife Georgina.

Her Mother was Alexander’s sister, Euphrosyne, who died at Hastings.

Euphrosyne (Constantine) Ionides

Birth 26 Jul 1822, Constantinople, Turkey/Byzantium

Death 24 Mar 1896, Hastings, Sussex, England

Burial 28 Mar 1896, Greek Orthodox Cemetery, West Norwood, London, England

Marr. Witness Alexander Ionides and Euterpe Ionides.