Claude Phillips
Encyclopedia
Sir Claude Phillips was an English writer, art historian and critic for the Daily Telegraph, Manchester Guardian and other publications during the late 19th century. He was the first keeper
of the Wallace Collection
at Hertford House, writing its first catalogue, and held that post from 1900 until his retirement in 1911 whereupon he was knighted for his service. Phillips was considered one of the most eminent critics in Victorian Britain, and his numerous scholarly and art history books were widely read.
and Germany
prior to studying law at the University of London
. He originally embarked on a career as a solicitor
and was called to the bar in 1883. As a young barrister-at-law, he was often called to Italy
on business and while there developed an interest in the arts.
Phillips eventually left the legal profession and became a music critic for the Daily Telegraph in the late 1880s. From 1885 to 1896, he was the English correspondent
for the Gazette des Beaux-Arts in Paris
. Among other Victorian era
publications he wrote for included the Manchester Guardian, the Magazine of Art, the Academy and The Art Journal
. Phillips became a widely known scholar in the field and later wrote several works on Joshua Reynolds
, Antoine Watteau
and Titian
. One of his best known books was The Life of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1894).
After a particularly well-received article on Rodin
, he became a full-time art critic for the Daily Telegraph in 1897. That same year, Phillips was appointed the first keeper
of the Wallace Collection
and spent the next three years preparing its catalogue prior to its opening at Hertford House in 1900. He held that post until his retirement 14 years later. In 1914 he was included in a caricature by Edmund Dulac
which was part of the Wallace Collection. The humorous painting is called "Le Legende de Joseph"
Phillips was succeeded by Dugald Sutherland MacColl
, and received a knighthood for his service shortly afterwards. Phillips died on August 9, 1924, at the age of 78. A collection of his essays, Emotion in Art (1925), was published posthumously the following year. The caricature of him was eventually given to the UK through the Art Fund, a charity that Phillips helped to set up.
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the Wallace Collection
Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a museum in London, with a world-famous range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with large holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms & armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries.It was established in...
at Hertford House, writing its first catalogue, and held that post from 1900 until his retirement in 1911 whereupon he was knighted for his service. Phillips was considered one of the most eminent critics in Victorian Britain, and his numerous scholarly and art history books were widely read.
Biography
The second son of Robert Abraham Phillips and Helen Levy, Claude Phillips was born at Gloster Villa, Regent's Park, London on January 29, 1846. He was educated in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
prior to studying law at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He originally embarked on a career as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and was called to the bar in 1883. As a young barrister-at-law, he was often called to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on business and while there developed an interest in the arts.
Phillips eventually left the legal profession and became a music critic for the Daily Telegraph in the late 1880s. From 1885 to 1896, he was the English correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
for the Gazette des Beaux-Arts in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Among other Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
publications he wrote for included the Manchester Guardian, the Magazine of Art, the Academy and The Art Journal
The Art Journal
The Art Journal, published in London, was the most important Victorian magazine on art. It was founded in 1839 by Hodgson & Graves, print publishers, 6 Pall Mall, with the title the Art Union Monthly Journal, the first issue of 750 copies appearing 15 February 1839.Hodgson & Graves hired Samuel...
. Phillips became a widely known scholar in the field and later wrote several works on Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
, Antoine Watteau
Antoine Watteau
Jean-Antoine Watteau was a French painter whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in colour and movement...
and Titian
Titian
Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488/1490 – 27 August 1576 better known as Titian was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near...
. One of his best known books was The Life of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1894).
After a particularly well-received article on Rodin
Rodin
- People :* Auguste Rodin , French sculptor, for whom is named:** The Musée Rodin in Paris, France** The Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA** The Rodin Gallery in Seoul, South Korea** Rodin , a crater on the Moon...
, he became a full-time art critic for the Daily Telegraph in 1897. That same year, Phillips was appointed the first keeper
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the Wallace Collection
Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a museum in London, with a world-famous range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with large holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms & armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries.It was established in...
and spent the next three years preparing its catalogue prior to its opening at Hertford House in 1900. He held that post until his retirement 14 years later. In 1914 he was included in a caricature by Edmund Dulac
Edmund Dulac
Edmund Dulac was a French book illustrator.-Early life and career:Born in Toulouse, France, he began his career by studying law at the University of Toulouse. He also studied art, switching to it full time after he became bored with law, and having won prizes at the Ecole des Beaux Arts...
which was part of the Wallace Collection. The humorous painting is called "Le Legende de Joseph"
Phillips was succeeded by Dugald Sutherland MacColl
Dugald Sutherland MacColl
Dugald Sutherland MacColl was a Scottish watercolour painter, art critic, lecturer and writer. He was keeper of the Tate gallery for five years.- Life :...
, and received a knighthood for his service shortly afterwards. Phillips died on August 9, 1924, at the age of 78. A collection of his essays, Emotion in Art (1925), was published posthumously the following year. The caricature of him was eventually given to the UK through the Art Fund, a charity that Phillips helped to set up.
External links
- Works by or about Claude Phillips at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(scanned books original editions color illustrated)