Admin
History
|
John Phillip was born in Aberdeen in 1817 and was apprenticed to a painter and glazier. From an early age he drew and painted, and was so eager to visit the Royal Academy in London that he smuggled himself on board a ship and had to work part of his passage to stay a single day in London. He then studied under a local portrait painter and was influenced by Wilkie in his style, though his chief artistic outlet was painting scenery for the Aberdeen Theatre. He came to the attention of Lord Panmure who offered to support his artistic education and sent him back to London for that purpose. He concentrated on portraits and historical subjects and worked in Aberdeen and London until 1851, when he visited Seville for his health. He was then influenced by Spanish artists and his work became more notable, patronised by the Queen and society members. With his art much better developed, he returned to Spain in 1860 and 1866 when he also visited Italy, but he died shortly after his return to England in 1867.
|