author
Sir Claude Phillips
1846–1924
A sharp-eyed Victorian art critic and historian, he helped shape how British readers and museum visitors understood European painting. His writing brought old masters, collectors, and galleries into lively public view.
2 Audiobooks
The Earlier Work of Titian
by Sir Claude Phillips
The Later Works of Titian
by Sir Claude Phillips
About the author
Born in London on 29 January 1846, Claude Phillips became known as a British writer, art historian, and critic whose work appeared in newspapers including The Daily Telegraph and the Manchester Guardian. Before focusing fully on art writing, he was trained in law, but he built his reputation through criticism, scholarship, and a deep knowledge of European painting.
Phillips played an important role in museum life as the first keeper of the Wallace Collection at Hertford House. He prepared its first catalogue and served there until his retirement in 1911, when he was knighted. His career connected journalism, connoisseurship, and public service, helping make major collections more accessible to a wider audience.
He also wrote books and studies on artists and galleries, especially in the field of Italian art. Remembered as both a critic and a curator, he was part of the generation that turned art history into something ordinary readers could follow with interest, not just specialists.