Lot Essay
Shortly before his twenty-fifth birthday, on 16 July 1842, Dadd set out for Ostend on the beginning of a tour of the Middle East with the Welsh lawyer, Sir Thomas Phillips, who required a young artist to accompany him to make drawings. Dadd had been recommended by David Roberts because his 'powers as a draughtsman, and his amiable qualities as a man, would render him as charming in companionship as he would be efficient as an artist'. Unfortunately it did not turn out quite like that, as Dadd returned from the trip, late in May 1843, insane, partly as the results of the general excitements and hazards of the journey, partly, it is likely, as the result of having suffered sunstroke in Egypt. Moreover, one immediate result was that Dadd developed an extreme hostility towards his unwitting patron. (For Dadd's journey in the Middle East see Patricia Allderidge, Tate Gallery exhibition catalogue, 1974-5, pp. 18-22 and nos. 73-87.)
For most of the time the travellers were on the move with little chance even for sketching, let alone working in watercolour, so it is probable that this prtrrait was done during one of their few periods of leisure, at Damascus, Alexandria or Cairo. The oriental costume may have been in part what was worn for travelling, but there is a feeling of fancy dress, expecially in the studied pose on a divan with a hookah which is not actually being smoked.
Thomas Phillips was born at Llanelly, Monmouthshire in 1801, the son of an iron-works manager. He worked as a solicitor at Newport, Monmouthshire, from 1824 until 1840, and became mayor in 1838. On 4 November 1839 he was wounded while reading the Riot Act to an incursion of seven thousand chartists and became a hero overnight, being knighted a month later and receiving the freedom of the City of London in February 1840. He moved to London in 1840 to study for the bar, being called on 10 June 1842, a month before setting off for the Middle East. Later he became a considerable proprietor of coal-mines and also indulged in charitable works. His interests are summarised in his book entitled Wales, the Language, Social Condition, Moral Character, and Religious Opinions of the People, considered in their relation to Education ..., published in 1849. He also wrote The Life of James Davies, a Village Schoolmaster, 1850, and was on the governing bodies of King's College, London, the Church Institution, the Society of Arts and the National Society. He died in London on 26 May 1867. (See Dictionary of National Biography and Allderidge, loc.cit., p. 148 no. 251)
For most of the time the travellers were on the move with little chance even for sketching, let alone working in watercolour, so it is probable that this prtrrait was done during one of their few periods of leisure, at Damascus, Alexandria or Cairo. The oriental costume may have been in part what was worn for travelling, but there is a feeling of fancy dress, expecially in the studied pose on a divan with a hookah which is not actually being smoked.
Thomas Phillips was born at Llanelly, Monmouthshire in 1801, the son of an iron-works manager. He worked as a solicitor at Newport, Monmouthshire, from 1824 until 1840, and became mayor in 1838. On 4 November 1839 he was wounded while reading the Riot Act to an incursion of seven thousand chartists and became a hero overnight, being knighted a month later and receiving the freedom of the City of London in February 1840. He moved to London in 1840 to study for the bar, being called on 10 June 1842, a month before setting off for the Middle East. Later he became a considerable proprietor of coal-mines and also indulged in charitable works. His interests are summarised in his book entitled Wales, the Language, Social Condition, Moral Character, and Religious Opinions of the People, considered in their relation to Education ..., published in 1849. He also wrote The Life of James Davies, a Village Schoolmaster, 1850, and was on the governing bodies of King's College, London, the Church Institution, the Society of Arts and the National Society. He died in London on 26 May 1867. (See Dictionary of National Biography and Allderidge, loc.cit., p. 148 no. 251)