John Phillips (artist)
Encyclopedia
John Phillips was an artist and illustrator in Great Britain. He is perhaps best known as a satirical
etcher
.
(1780–1867), and Lydia Arnold. He was born 24 October 1808 in the Parish of St James, Westminster
, and baptised 28 May 1809 in the Tottenham Court Chapel
in Tottenham Court Road. His mother died in 1839 and John lived for a time with his father at 8 Leicester Square (1831) 8, Richmond Buildings, Dean Street, Soho (1832-3), 60 Frith Street Soho, (1837) 16 Brownlow Street, and later (1841,) at 85 Newman Street. His first print was published in 1825 at the age of 17. He published a number of satirical prints between 1825 and 1830 for G Humphrey and others.
Phillips is known to have used the pseudonym
, A Sharpshooter, who published a series of prints through S Gans. After the demise of the satirical print in the 1830s he turned his hand to portraiture in the form of miniatures. Five have been identified to date (2011.)
He also exhibited paintings and drawings at the Society of British Artists
and the New Watercolour Society 1832-7. He co-operated with Alfred Crowquill (pseud. of Alfred Henry Forester 1804-72) in Geo William Reynolds "Pickwick Abroad, or a Tour in France" 1838, illustrated with 41 steel engravings by A Crowquill and John Phillips, and 33 woodcuts by Bonner. For Thomas Tegg
, 73, Cheapside, 1839'.
.
Several series of etchings by him exist. 'Merry Thoughts for Merry Moments' pub C.S. Arnold, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden. 1829; 'Characteristic Sketches of the London Club Houses' (4) pub by G. Humphrey, St James Street, Westminster, July 3, 1829; 'Itinerant Characters Drawn & Etched from the life', in 6 plates illustrating the trades and occupations of the humblest classes in the metropolis, published by Wm Darton of Holborn Hill (nd. Circa 1825.); 'Familiar Life' pub Tilt & Bogue, Fleet St. (nd), and many others. In 1842 Edward Landells found him working at “The Illustrated London News” as a scene painter.
Phillips had almost certainly died by 1851. No information about him can be found in the census, and no further art works have been recorded or found.
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
etcher
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
.
Early life
John Phillips was the son of Giles Firman PhillipsGiles Firman Phillips
Giles Firmin Phillips was an English artist and author. He painted landscapes and river scenes, primarily of the river Thames. His paintings were exhibited, among other venues, at the Royal Academy from 1836 - 1858...
(1780–1867), and Lydia Arnold. He was born 24 October 1808 in the Parish of St James, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, and baptised 28 May 1809 in the Tottenham Court Chapel
Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road
Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, a church in London, England; also called Tottenham Court Road Chapel, was built in 1756 for George Whitefield. It was enlarged in 1759...
in Tottenham Court Road. His mother died in 1839 and John lived for a time with his father at 8 Leicester Square (1831) 8, Richmond Buildings, Dean Street, Soho (1832-3), 60 Frith Street Soho, (1837) 16 Brownlow Street, and later (1841,) at 85 Newman Street. His first print was published in 1825 at the age of 17. He published a number of satirical prints between 1825 and 1830 for G Humphrey and others.
Phillips is known to have used the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, A Sharpshooter, who published a series of prints through S Gans. After the demise of the satirical print in the 1830s he turned his hand to portraiture in the form of miniatures. Five have been identified to date (2011.)
He also exhibited paintings and drawings at the Society of British Artists
Royal Society of British Artists
The Royal Society of British Artists is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy.-History:...
and the New Watercolour Society 1832-7. He co-operated with Alfred Crowquill (pseud. of Alfred Henry Forester 1804-72) in Geo William Reynolds "Pickwick Abroad, or a Tour in France" 1838, illustrated with 41 steel engravings by A Crowquill and John Phillips, and 33 woodcuts by Bonner. For Thomas Tegg
Thomas Tegg
-Early life:He was the son of a grocer, born at Wimbledon, Surrey, on 4 March 1776, and was left an orphan at the age of five. He was sent to a boarding school at Galashiels in Selkirkshire. In 1785 he was bound apprentice to Alexander Meggett, a book-seller at Dalkeith. He ran away, sold chapbook...
, 73, Cheapside, 1839'.
Punch magazine
Phillips worked as an illustrator in the first edition of PunchPunch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
.
Several series of etchings by him exist. 'Merry Thoughts for Merry Moments' pub C.S. Arnold, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden. 1829; 'Characteristic Sketches of the London Club Houses' (4) pub by G. Humphrey, St James Street, Westminster, July 3, 1829; 'Itinerant Characters Drawn & Etched from the life', in 6 plates illustrating the trades and occupations of the humblest classes in the metropolis, published by Wm Darton of Holborn Hill (nd. Circa 1825.); 'Familiar Life' pub Tilt & Bogue, Fleet St. (nd), and many others. In 1842 Edward Landells found him working at “The Illustrated London News” as a scene painter.
Phillips had almost certainly died by 1851. No information about him can be found in the census, and no further art works have been recorded or found.