Richard Phillips (English painter) facts for kids

Richard Phillips (sometimes spelled Philips) was a talented British artist who lived a long time ago, from 1681 to 1741. He was famous for painting portraits, which are special pictures of people. He was born and died in London, England.

Who Was Richard Phillips?

Richard Phillips was a portrait painter during a time when photography didn't exist. This meant that if important people wanted their likeness captured, they would hire an artist like Phillips. His paintings help us see what people from the past looked like.

Painting Famous Faces

Phillips painted many important people of his time. Some of his most well-known portraits include:

• Edmond Halley: He was a famous astronomer, a scientist who studies stars and planets. You might know him because of Halley's Comet! Phillips's painting of him is now in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
• William Lowndes: He was an important politician who worked for the government. His portrait by Phillips can be found at the Bank of England.
• John Bennet, 1st Baron Ossulston: Another important person from that era.
• Elizabeth Cromwell: She was the granddaughter of Oliver Cromwell, a very famous figure in English history.
• Sir Thomas Palmer, 4th Baronet, of Wingham: A member of a noble family.

Artworks in the National Portrait Gallery

Besides his paintings, other types of art made from his original works are also in the National Portrait Gallery. These include:

• Mezzotints: These are a type of printmaking that creates images with soft, rich tones.
• Engravings: These are also prints, made by carving a design into a surface.

These prints were made after Phillips's portraits of people like Daniel Waterland, Bishop Thomas Wilson, and Mrs Mary Anne Granville. This shows how popular his portraits were, as people wanted copies of them.

His Family's Art

Richard Phillips was not the only artist in his family! His son, Charles Philips (who lived from about 1703 to 1748), also became a painter. Charles learned from his father and later became a follower of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt. Interestingly, Charles ended up painting even more important and famous people than his father did.

Richard Phillips passed away in London in 1741. His work helps us remember the faces of people from a long time ago.