Yorkshire Terrier Portrait “Duchess” With Congo Pink Bow, 1987 — After the Style of John Emms

Details

Description

Yorkshire Terrier Portrait “Duchess” with Congo Pink Bow, 1987 — After the Style of John Emms
Description
This charming oil … Read more Yorkshire Terrier Portrait “Duchess” with Congo Pink Bow, 1987 — After the Style of John Emms
Description
This charming oil on board portrait, signed and dated lower right “R. L. Phillips 87,” depicts a finely groomed Yorkshire Terrier named Duchess. The sitter is portrayed in elegant repose, her silky coat cascading gracefully, secured at the crown with a striking congo pink bow. Painted in 1987, the work demonstrates Phillips’s command of detail and sensitivity to character, aligning with the British tradition of animal portraiture.
Artistic Qualities
Set against a muted sage-grey ground, the composition directs attention solely to Duchess. This restrained approach recalls the Victorian dog portraiture of John Emms (1843–1912), where the animal’s individuality takes precedence over surrounding context.
Phillips’s palette enhances both texture and spirit:
Amber and golden tones convey warmth.
Charcoal and black notes define depth.
Silvery greys emphasize the silky sheen of the coat.
The vivid pink bow provides a refined focal point.
His brushwork alternates between meticulous detail in the fur and softer, more fluid passages that model volume. The lively glint in the eyes and subtle trace of tongue capture the alertness and charm of the breed, elevating the work beyond likeness into true character study.
In the Tradition of John Emms
Phillips’s approach demonstrates clear affinity with John Emms, one of the foremost late-Victorian painters of dogs and sporting animals. Both artists granted their sitters dignity and personality, using minimal backgrounds to focus attention on the animal’s presence. Duchess may thus be considered a late-20th-century continuation of this enduring tradition.
The Yorkshire Terrier
Originating in 19th-century Britain, the Yorkshire Terrier quickly rose from a working terrier to a fashionable household companion. Celebrated for its glossy, flowing coat and spirited nature, the breed epitomized refinement in Victorian society. In Duchess, these qualities are faithfully represented through Phillips’s sensitive rendering.
The Artist
R. L. (Ray) Phillips was active from the 1950s through the early 2000s. Early works such as Cornish Harbour (1959) and Bedfordshire Church (1964) demonstrate his interest in landscape, while later paintings focus on dogs and domestic animals. Remembered locally in Bedfordshire as “a very talented artist,” Phillips produced a body of work that resonates with the British animal painting tradition, stylistically linked to Landseer and Emms.
Presentation
Framed dimensions: 44 cm wide x 55 cm high x 1.5 cm deep
Frame: Larson Juhl giltwood, fitted with AR70 museum-grade glass. The warm gilt surface harmonizes with the tones of the sitter’s coat, while the glazing provides UV protection and clarity.
Provenance
Private Collection, London
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Key Features
Signed and dated by the artist.
In the style of John Emms, blending dignity with lifelike character.
High-quality presentation with museum-grade framing.
A fine addition for collectors of British animal art or Yorkshire Terrier enthusiasts. See less