Sir Claude Phillips was a British writer, art historian and critic for The Daily Telegraph, Manchester Guardian and other publications during the late 19th century.
11 Facts About Claude Phillips
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Claude Phillips was the first keeper of the Wallace Collection at Hertford House, writing its first catalogue, and held that post from 1900 until his retirement in 1911 whereupon he was knighted for his service.
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The second son of Robert Abraham Phillips and Helen Levy, Claude Phillips was born at Gloster Villa, Regent's Park, London on 29 January 1846.
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Claude Phillips was educated in France and Germany prior to studying law at the University of London.
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Claude Phillips originally embarked on a career as a solicitor and was called to the bar in 1883.
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Claude Phillips eventually left the legal profession and became a music critic for The Daily Telegraph in the late 1880s.
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Claude Phillips became a widely known scholar in the field and later wrote several works on Joshua Reynolds, Antoine Watteau and Titian.
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That same year, Claude Phillips was appointed the first keeper of the Wallace Collection and spent the next three years preparing its catalogue prior to its opening at Hertford House in 1900.
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Claude Phillips held that post until his retirement 14 years later.
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Claude Phillips was succeeded by Dugald Sutherland MacColl, and received a knighthood for his service shortly afterwards.
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The caricature of him was eventually given to the UK through the Art Fund, a charity that Claude Phillips helped to set up.