Glyn Philpot and his influences

Philpot excelled in portraiture, however his most successful works were those created in relaxed, informal settings, where he established a genuine connection with his sitters. In this portrait, Philpot skilfully captures Christie's prominent features including his angular jawline, vivid red hair, intense gaze, defined lips, and prominent brow. The viewer is immediately struck by the intensity of the sitter's gaze, a motif Philpot repeated throughout his works influenced by the great Venetian master, Titian. Philpot greatly admired the work of Titian and actively practiced and taught his techniques at the Royal Academy Schools. Despite the beautiful interplay of light and shadow across the sitter which illuminates Christie the portrait is set against a dramatic dark backdrop which creates a stunning contrast reminiscent in the work of artists such as John Singer Sargent and James McNeill Whistler.

The Adoration of the Three Kings

Lot 93 was first exhibited in 1923 at Philpot's solo exhibition at the Grosvenor Galleries under the title Portrait Study for the Three Kings. It is believed that the present portrait was a study for The Adoration of the Three Kings (1918), a work exhibited at the Royal Academy that same year and later sold by the Baltimore Museum of Art at Christie's in 1990 to a British private collector.

The Adoration of the Three Kings depicts three sumptuously cloaked figures bearing gifts as they arrive at the stable door. The viewer takes the perspective of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus, as the Magi cross the threshold bathed in a golden light. Raised in a devout Baptist family, Philpot's early religious teachings profoundly shaped his life and artistic vision. His interest in biblical themes was evident as early as 1903 when, at just 19, his painting The Elevation of the Host was accepted at the Royal Academy of Arts. This work, depicting the raising of Christ during the Eucharist, reflected his early engagement with Christian iconography from a distinctive and modern perspective.

In 1906, Philpot converted to Roman Catholicism, a decision that created significant tension within his family. His subsequent travels through Spain, Portugal, and Morocco deepened his study of Catholic imagery and the works of the Old Masters. These experiences significantly influenced his art, inspiring some of his most powerful religious-themed paintings. By 1929, Philpot had become the first president of the Guild of Catholic Artists and Craftsmen, solidifying his commitment to his faith. However, his devout Catholic beliefs often conflicted with his identity as a queer man - a tension that permeates his body of work.

Provenance

This portrait of Arthur Christie was acquired by Sir Edmund Davis, the Australian-born mining financier and prominent art collector. Sir Edmund Davis was advised by Charles Ricketts and Charles Shannon and built an impressive collection that included works by James McNeill Whistler, William Orpen, and Edward Burne-Jones, some of which were later bequeathed to the Musée du Luxembourg. It is likely that Sir Edmund Davis purchased this portrait from the 1923 Grosvenor Gallery exhibition. The work was later lent by Davis to the Tate Gallery's Paintings and Sculpture by the Late Glyn Philpot exhibition in the summer of 1938.

Following Sir Edmund Davis' death, the portrait was sold at Christie's alongside other notable works from Davis' collection, including Rodin sculptures, a lead figure by Philpot, and paintings by James Pryde and James McNeill Whistler. The work was eventually acquire by Philpot's sister, Daisy Philpot and thence by descent to Gabrielle Cross, the artist's niece.

Philpot frequently returned to certain models, portraying them in various roles and guises throughout his career. Among his most notable muses was Henry Thomas, whom he met in 1929. It has been suggested that Arthur Christie may have also been the model used for the Angel Gabriel in The Angel of Annunciation (1925) and for The Transfiguration of Dionysus before the Tyrrhenian Pirates (1924).

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Auction Details

Wednesday 12 March, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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