RSA Scottish Art
Portrait of John Phillip RA, HRSA
 | Artist: John Blake McDonald |
| Title: Portrait of John Phillip RA, HRSA | |
| Year: 1867 | |
| Medium: oil on canvas | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| Description: John Blake McDonald was a well-known painter of Scottish historical scenes, as well as a successful portrait painter. Macdonald painted the artist, John Phillip (1811-1867), at work in his studio. This is a very descriptive painting: we see the artist seated, dressed in a painter's cap, and holding his brushes and palette. Behind him, on an easel, is the painting he is working on and the figures in it appear to be Spanish. Phillip was nicknamed “Spanish Phillip” because many of his works were inspired by his visits to Spain. Phillip's distinctive beard and perceptive gaze suggest that this is a strong individual. This is a traditional view of an artist in the late 19th century. The artist is male, middle aged, a painter, and uses conventional tools. Is this still an accurate picture of an artist in relation to the present day? The painting is executed in a muted palette, featuring mostly earthy warm colours and some black and white in the shadows and highlights. The brushstrokes on the figure have a rapid, dynamic quality. The face, however, has been more subtly painted. Notice how the brushstrokes are modelled around the face - the highlights on the temples move horizontally towards the ear, while the cheeks are picked out with downward strokes. This composition shows three-quarters of the figure. If we look at the base of the painting, our eye is led up towards the head from either side forming a triangle, which is a classic arrangement. It is a tightly focused composition and shows the artist close to his easel. Imagine the difference it would make to our view of this man if the portrait was a close-up of the face, a head and shoulders, or a full-length portrait. How would it change if we saw the same figure surrounded by large areas of dark background? | |
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