William Phelips (1823-1889)
Thomas Musgrove Joy (Boughton, Kent 1812 – London 1866)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1858 (inscribed)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1251 x 991 mm (49 1/4 x 39 in)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 597996
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, William Phelips (1823-1889) by Thomas Musgrove Joy (Boughton, Kent 1812 – London 1866), inscribed on reverse: Wm Phelips Esquire of Montacute. Painted by T.M. Joy London 1858. A three-quarter length portrait of the son of Reverend William Phelips (1788-1834) and Mary Messiter as a young man, standing, facing, head turned slightly to the right, looking to the right, his right hand holding a top hat and the thumb of his left hand is crooked in the pocket of his waistcoat and he holds his gloves in the same hand. Dark hair falling slightly over tops of ears, long sideburns but clean shaven, wearing a black coat, black waistcoat, brown trousers, white shirt with black loosely-tied cravat tie. Montacute is seen in the background on the left; large tree-trunk on the right with branches and foliage overhead. He married Ellen Helyar (1816-1911), a wealthy lady from West Coker. William Phelips was an absentee landlord who gambled heavily and was eventually placed under the care of the Commissioners in Lunacy.
Provenance
On loan from the Phelips family since 1931; purchased with the aid of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the V&A Museums and Galleries Commission Purchase Grant Fund in 1989.
Credit line
Montacute House, The Phelips Collection (The National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: Inscribed: Wm Phelips Esquire of Montacute. Painted by T.M. Joy London 1858 Recto: Small gilt tablet affixed to bottom centre of frame, inscribed:
Makers and roles
Thomas Musgrove Joy (Boughton, Kent 1812 – London 1866), publisher
References
Montacute House, Somerset, 1979 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1979, p.40. Illustrated. Caption: "William Phelips (1823-89) from the portrait in the first floor corridor." Montacute House, Somerset, 1986 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1979, revised 1986 , p.40. Illustrated. Caption: "William Phelips (1823-89) from the portrait in the first floor corridor." Montacute House, Somerset, 1986-1987 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1979, revised 1986 reprinted 1987 , p.40. Illustrated. Caption: "William Phelips (1823-89) from the portrait in the first floor corridor." Montacute House, Somerset, 1991 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, p.57 "THE PARLOUR PASSAGE PAINTINGS NORTH (END) WALL William Phelips (1823-89) Eldest grandson of the Rev. William Phelips. There is a view of Montacute in the background. Thomas Musgrove Joy (1812-66), signed and dated 1858." Montacute House, Somerset, 1997 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, revised 1997 , p.57 "THE PARLOUR PASSAGE PAINTINGS NORTH (END) WALL William Phelips (1823-89) Eldest grandson of the Rev. William Phelips. There is a view of Montacute in the background. Thomas Musgrove Joy (1812-66), signed and dated 1858." Montacute House, Somerset, 2004-2006 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 2000, revised 2004, reprinted 2005, 2006, p.45 "THE PARLOUR PASSAGE PAINTINGS NORTH (END) WALL William Phelips (1823-89) Eldest grandson of the Rev. William Phelips. There is a view of Montacute in the background. Thomas Musgrove Joy (1812-66), signed and dated 1858."