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John Phillip in his Studio
John Phillip in his Studio

John Phillip in his Studio

Artist (Kelso, Scotland, 1815 - 1895)
Sitter (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1817 - 1867)
Date1863-64
Mediumoil on canvas
ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings
Dimensions50.5 x 61.5cm
Frame Size: 76.2 x 86.7cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 2003 with assistance from the National Fund for Acquisitions and with income from the Marguerite McBey Trust.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationOn Display - Gallery 07
Object numberABDAG014289
About MeIn the 1860's John Ballantyne moved south to London and shortly after his arrival the 'Smashers Club,' which had formed in Edinburgh and consisted of James Archer, William Crawford, William Fettes-Douglas and John and Thomas Faed, reformed. It was here that Ballantyne began his series of studio portraits of various well-known contemporary artists. Seventeen portraits were produced in total and depicted artists such as David Roberts, Clarkson Stanfield, Daniel Maclise, Alfred W. Elmore, William Powell Frith and Edwin Landseer. Two of John Phillip were executed the other can be found at the National Portrait Gallery.

In this scene John Phillip stands at his easel. He wears a black skullcap and can be identified by his distinctive 'thoughtful, grizzly bearded face'. His wife Maria is seen in profile, seated on a red sofa. Clearly, in spite of her chronic illness and violent, even dangerous, episodes, she was not yet a permanent patient but was living at home for periods. Yet their relationship was extremely difficult. In a chilling passage, a family friend wrote:

We liked John Phillip: 'Phillip of Spain' as he was always called: but at the time I, for one, was afraid of him. He could never tolerate the least amount of movement, and I can see now how he turned round on his wife with a snap and a snarl, which nearly frightened her into fits because she would sit just behind him while he was painting, drawing her needle in and out of some very stiff material which creaked in the most horrible manner possible. I hated the noise too but I would rather have put up with it than been as alarmed as I was at his sudden rage. Poor lady! She was even then on the borderland.


More About Me
This work is one from a series of 17 paintings that Ballantyne made depicting great artists at work in their studio.
Exhibitions