Phil May sketching

Born in Wortley near Leeds, Phil May (1864-1903) gravitated to London as an illustrator on St Stephen’s Review when he was eighteen. He was then head-hunted for the Sydney Bulletin, and spent almost three years in Australia before registering with Rothenstein’s student cohort at the atelier Julian in October 1890. He proposed that Rothenstein take a studio at 13 rue Ravignon where they would be joined by his friend from Australia, Charles Conder (see lots 26 and 28). Although May was ‘touchingly simple’ and with ‘no vice’, Rothenstein ruefully admits that his companions were ‘detrimental to regular work’. May’s healthy bank balance, courtesy of his generous patron, Theodore Fink, was being squandered when ‘… worthless strangers … settled round his table like flies’ (William Rothenstein, Men and Memories, London, 1931, p. 58). Although in grave financial difficulties, St Stephen’s Review was happy to have him back and even in Paris, May’s work was in great demand to such an extent that commitment to study was casual at best. He scored considerable success in 1891 with his illustrations to The Parson and the Painter – a series of adventures featuring the fictional Rev Joseph Slapkins – while appearances in The Graphic, The Illustrated London News, Black and White and Punch were accompanied by popular ‘annuals’ and ‘sketchbook selections’. These fuelled the alcoholic addiction that led to his death.