The Artist's Spanish Guide

Artist John Phillip (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1817 - 1867)

SitterSitter is Pepe Bensacki

Date1856

Mediumoil on canvas

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 40.8 cm, Width: 31.9 cm
Frame: Height: 63.9 cm, Width: 54.8 cm

AcquisitionAlexander Macdonald Bequest, 1901.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG003842

Keywords

About MeThis was painted on Phillip's second visit to Spain, in 1856. Phillip, who was travelling with artist Richard Ansdell, decided to employ a Spanish guide, perhaps on the recommendation of the travel writer Richard Ford, who had cautioned, "English servants, whom no wise person would take on the Continent, are nowhere more useless or greater incumbrances [sic] than in Spain."

Phillip painted a portrait of the guide, Pepe Bensacki, in Seville later that year. With his thick tousled hair, jaunty tartan bow tie and confident gaze, Pepe looks more like a friend and companion than a servant.