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1770. He evinced a love of art at a very early age ; and after some 

 provincial instruction, at Birmingham, in an inferior branch of 

 painting, he directed his steps to London, where he arrived in the 

 year 1790. He soon placed himself before the public ; for in the 

 second year after his establishment in London his name is found 

 among the exhibitors at the Royal Academy of Arts. In the earlier 

 part of Mr. Phillips's career, he appeared as a painter of historical 

 and fancy subjects ; but he seems soon to have relinquished this 

 branch of his art for that in which he afterwards became so deser- 

 vedly eminent; naaiely, portraiture. In the autumn of 1804-, the 

 members of the Royal Academy elected Mr. Phillips an Associate 

 of that Society: four years after, in 1808, he received his full di- 

 ploma as a Royal Academician. He was elected a Fellov/ of the 

 Royal Society in 1820. After the decease of Mr. Fuseli, in 1824', 

 he became Professor of Painting in the Royal Academy. Before 

 delivering the customary course of lectures, Mr. Phillips proceeded 

 to Italy to contemplate the works of the great masters preserved at 

 Rome, Florence, Parma, and in other continental collections. On 

 his return to London, the Professor prepared his lectures, which 

 were delivered to the students of the Royal Academy; and they 

 were subsequently printed by him in 1833. These discourses, of 

 which his brother academicians have shown their appreciation by 

 making them part of the prizes bestowed on successful students in 

 the schools of painting, display the intimate acquaintance possessed 

 by their author with the principles and practice of Ids art. Four 

 of the series are on the History of Painting; others on Invention, 

 Design, Composition, Colouring, Chiaroscuro, and the application 

 of the principles of painting. They form altogether an admirable 

 treatise on the art ; they abound with sound philosophical views and 

 just criticism, united with excellent practical advice and instruc- 

 tion, conveyed in clear and unaffected language. They are a highly 

 valuable contribution to the class of literature to which they belong, 

 and are most honourable to the ability and taste of their lamented 

 writer. 



For above forty years of his life Mr. Phillips was in full practice 

 as a portrait-painter ; and. among his sitters were many of the most 

 exalted and eminent men of his age. It is unnecessary to attempt 

 to notice all the works which proceeded from his constantly em- 

 ployed pencil ; but a few of his more important pictures may v/ith 

 propriety be referred to. Among the most interesting subjects 

 whose likenesses are preserved to us by his skill, may first be classed 

 those Presidents of the Royal Society v.hose portraits now decorate 

 the walls of the room in which our ordinary meetings are held, 

 namely. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, Sir Joseph Banks, 

 and Mr. Davies Gilbert. Among those of scientific and literary 

 characters, it is gratifying to refer to pictures of the present Dean 

 of Westminster (Dr. Buckland), Dr. Dalton, Professor Sedgwick, 

 Mrs. Somerville, Francis Baily, and Professor Faraday; as well as 

 those of Byron, Scott, Southey, Coleridge, Campbell and Hallam. 

 These are but a fe\v,--but they are among the best of his works,—* 



