Philip T. Gilchrist
Gallery of Paintings
Postcard showing Dolphin House designed by Philip and built between 1912 and 1914
Philip Thomson Gilchrist R. B. A. (1865-1956) lived at Sunderland Point for more than 40 years. He was a fine painter of marine subjects, landscapes and classical themes. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in London and the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. He was an elected member of the Royal British Academy of artists and both Manchester and Liverpool Academies of Fine Arts . Examples of Philip’s works can be found in the collections of public art galleries.
He worked closely and developed a lifelong friendship with the famous British painter William Wells during his years at Sunderland Point in the early 1900s.
These images are copyright to the estate of Philip Gilchrist and have been reproduced with the permission of the Gilchrist family. They must not be copied without express permission.
All paintings in oils unless otherwise stated.
Click on any image to enlarge
Photographs of Philip from earliest years to middle age
1880 - 1902
First works up to the Exchange Street Exhibition in 1902
1. 'The Cotton Tree', 1891. (Philip's dog?).
2. 'Fishing boats on Lune', 1891.
3. A boat on shore at Old Hall, 1891.
4. 'A Rainbow over Niagara Falls', 1893. Painted during his visit to the USA with his friend William Maxwell Reekie.
5. 'The Land Lighthouse', 1899. Attributed to Philip. The subject is included in Philip's list of paintings; however, the signature is indecipherable and may not be his.
6. 'November Sunshine', 1899. Shown at the Manchester Graphic Club and given to his friend Alex Muir.
7. 'Streatley on Thames', 1899. Highly praised when exhibited at the Graphic Club in Manchester in 1899.
8. 'Clearing Up' 1899. A lyrical narrative painting, much admired yet questioned for Philip’s technique. The older girls arms may be a little too long, and the doll-like face of the younger girl.
9. 'A Breaking Wave', 1900.
10. 'An Iron Barque' 1901. A major success for Philip, although there were doubters about the colour scheme, thought to be too green. It was highly regarded and shown at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1901, as well as in Manchester, Liverpool and Hull.
11. Unknown ship sketch, possibly 'Aground', 1901.
12. Two small upright marine watercolours, 1901. Given to Alex Muir.
13. 'An Evening in May, Falmouth', 1902. A well-liked painting shown at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts the same year and in Wigan.
14. 'Schooner with Tug', watercolour, 1902. Given to his brother George Gilchrist.
15. 'A Wet day in Moffat', 1900. The painting that earned Philip associateship at the Royal Academy of British Artists in London, also shown in Birmingham.
14. Possibly 'The Fairy Tree', 1900. Shown in Manchester and later at the Royal British Academy.
15. Untitled, but is the Old Hall, painted in 1901.
1903 - 1905
Up to the Atkinson Gallery Exhibition in Southport, 1905
Inside the 1905 Atkinson Gallery Exhibition in Southport
1. 'Irish Mail, Conway Curve' 1905. Another accomplished painting that was widely admired. Shown in Manchester, Liverpool, and the Royal British Academy, London.
2. Formal photo of 'Irish Mail' 1905.
3. Preparatory sketch 1 for 'Irish Mail' 1905.
4. Preparatory sketch 2 for 'Irish Mail' 1905.
5. 'The Home of the Mediterranean Fleet, Malta' 1903. Together with its sister painting 'Latent Power', shown at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts exhibition in Liverpool.
6. 'Latent Power' 1903. See 5.
7. Formal photo of 'The Coming Tide' 1904. A highly regarded painting, it's hoped the original can be located. Shown at the Royal British Academy exhibition in 1904, as well as in Liverpool, Derby, and Hull (in 1907).
8. 'The Ship Graveyard at Falmouth' 1905. Given to A Hodgkinson.
9. 'Xerxes Burning Athens: Flight of the Athenians' 1903. Perhaps Philip's favourite painting. It is highly accomplished and was widely admired when shown at the Royal Academy in London, and elsewhere. Presented to Lancaster corporation in 1951, and shown in their Festival of Britain Exhibition.
10. 'Columns of the Olypmpieion, Athens' 1903. Shown at the Manchester Academy of Arts.
11. A Greek fishing boat, no title, 1902? Possibly 'A Red Boat in Phaleron' which Philip gave to James Mellis, his future father-in-law.
12. Formal photo 'The Last Days of HMS Marathon' 1905.
13. Formal photograph, 'Between the Lamps of Day and Night' 1902. The original was a much exhibited picture , shown in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Rochdale.
14. Formal photograph ‘Home Again' 1902. Shown with its sister painting, number 13, 'Between the Lamps of Day and Night' in various cities.
15. Cattle on a headland, no title dated, 1905.
16. Sketch for 'Southport Marine Lake' 1904.
17. 'Southport Marine Lake' 1904. Shown at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts exibition, in Bolton and the Birkdale Liberal Club (!) .
18. 'Across The River' 1905? If so, the painting was exhibited in Manchester, the Liverpool Academy, and the Royal British Academy in London.
19. 'The Fishers of Phaleron' 1903. Criticaly well recieved when shown in the 1903 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, also shown in Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham.
20. 'Temple of the Wingless Victory' 1902. Shown in Manchester and Liverpool in 1902, and again in Liverpool in 1910.
21. 'Training Brig Getting Under Weigh' 1903 (Philip's spelling). Shown in Liverpool, given to a Miss Ackroyd.
22. Greek fishermen, no title or date, but thought to be a painting from Philip’s visit to Greece. c1902?
23. 'A Forgotten Lancashire Port' 1905. Perhaps Philip's masterpiece. Shown in the Royal Acadamy Summer Exibition in 1906. also in Manchester in 1906, Liverpool, Rochdale in 1907, and Oldham in 1908. In the collection of the Manchester City Art Gallery.
24. 'Sketch of Cemlyn Bay' 1905. Shown at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts and given to his sister Dora.
25. 'An Old Gun-Brig' 1903. Shown in Manchester and Liverpool in 1903 and in Glasgow in 1904.
26. Possible Corfu sketch (later used for 'Isle of Ulysses, Corfu' 1936) c1902.
27. 'A quiet evening on the Lune' 1905. A lovely picture given by Philip to A Hodgkinson.
The hanging committee for an exhibition at the Liverpool Academy of Arts. Philip is seated second from the right.
1906 - 1910
Up to the Exhibitions in Manchester and Glasgow, 1910
1. 'Fettling Up', 1906. A Watercolour shown at the Southport Art Association.
2. Possibly 'The Norwegian Barque' 1906, The ship had run aground and could not be re-floated. It was salvaged as a wreck. If this is the painting, it was widely shown in Manchester, Liverpool, Rochdale, Southport and at the Royal British Academy in London.
3. ‘Morning on the Lune’, 1909. A favourite painting. Shown in Stockport, at the Liverpool Academy Centenary Exhibition, and later in Hull and Rochdale, as well as at the Royal British Academy. Philip notes it was requested for an exhibition in Oldham but was not sent.
4. 'Dedicated to the Moon-god, a Temple of 3,000 Years Ago. 1908. A highly admired painting, Philip captures the stillness of the timeless ancient ruin bathed in moonlight. Shown at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1909, and also in Southport, Manchester and Liverpool.
5. Sketch of the boat Child of Hale. perhaps created during the preparation for ‘The Retired Lifeboat’, 1909.
6.'The Retired Lifeboat', 1909. Shown in Southport, at the Liverpool Academy, and at the Royal British Academy in 1910.'
7. Sketch for 'The Lune Estuary at Low Water' 1906. See 8.
8. 'The Lune Estuary at Low Water', 1906. Another favourite, a well-crafted painting, shown in multiple cities and at the Royal British Academy in London.
9. Formal photograph of 'In Dock', 1908. A detailed painting of ships at Glasson Dock. The original was exhibited at the Royal British Academy and in Manchester, Liverpool (1909) and Southport.
10. 'The Pyramids of Gizah' 1909. Shown in Southport in 1911.
11. 'A Winter Sunrise', 1907. (As recorded in an auction sale.) Shown at the Royal British Academy in 1910 and in other cities.
12. 'A Cornfield', 1909. (As recorded for an auction sale). Shown at Southport and the Royal British Academy.
13. 'An October Morning, Loch-an-Eilan', 1908. Highly praised when shown at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Exibition in 1910.
14. Possible sketch for 'Sea Pinks in the Evening', c1910.
15. Possibly a painting during his visit to the Amazon, also possibly, 'Across the Forest', 1909. If so, it was given to his future father-in-law, the Rev. James Mellis.
16. 'Sea Pinks', 1908. This must have been special for Philip, as he gave it to his future wife, Katharine Mellis. Shown at the Royal Academy (1911) and in Liverpool, Rochdale (1909), and Manchester. Later shown in Southport in 1936.
17. 'A Gleam', 1906. Shown at the Royal British Academy and in Southport.
18. 'Back to the Moorings', 1908. One of Philip's best paintings, the superb colouring adds to a sense of calm on the still water. Shown at the 1909 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, as well as in other cities.
19. 'Close of a Wet Day' 1906 (later/also called 'The Cotton Tree’). Shown in 1907 in Southport and Hull, and in 1909 in Derby. Also at The Royal British Academy, London.
20.'An Old Mooring Post', 1908. Another favourite, shown at the Royal British Academy and in Liverpool (1909) and Hull (1910). Given to Alfred White, husband of his sister Theo.
21. 'The Tugboat', 1906. A watercolour, Southport Art Association exhibition, Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, 1907, and in Liverpool.
22. 'Twilight view of Sunderland Point', possibly dated between 1906 and 1910.
23. ‘Bella Villa', 1910. The house on the outskirts of Manchester was occupied by the family before they moved to Southport in 1895. It also inspired Dolphin House, which Philip designed and had built at SP 1912 - 1914. In the collection of Lancaster City Museums.
24. Sketch of 'Bella Villa' dated 1897. Philip may have used this as the guide for his 1910 painting of the house.
25. Possibly 'The Sacred Lake, Karnak', 1908. If so, it was shown at the 1908 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, as well as in Liverpool, Rochdale (1909), and Manchester (1910).
26. Believed to be of Philip's brother George and his wife Edith, in their boat Mo Chuillean.
Stained glass design for the new Dolphin House, 1912 - 1914
1911 - 1954
All paintings up to his last works
1. 'Old Boats' 1935. Shown in Doncaster and at the 1936 Winter exhibition at the Royal British Academy, also at Southport and Manchester. Philip's notes say he 'improved' the painting in 1950.
2. ‘The Spell to Make the Anchor Hold', 1938 or, more likely, 1951. Philip's notes say he attempted this painting in 1938 and had a second attempt in 1951. Shown at the RBA Festival of Britain exhibition in 1951. A magical painting.
3. 'The Loch', 1906 and 1936. Philip's notes suggest he made changes to one of his older, perhaps unfinished, works in 1936. Shown at the Southport Palette Club in 1936.
4. Possibly 'A Day That Has Passed' (1930/51)? This is guesswork; however, the painting with this title was shown at the RBA in 1934. Philip's notes suggest he reworked the painting in 1951 and called it 'Bygone Days'. This could reflect Philip in old age, looking back.
5. 'Mooring at Sunderland', 1950. Philip's yacht 'The Dolphin' coming to its moorings. Shown at the Lancaster Festival Exhibition of 1951.
6. 'In a Highland Forest', 1938. Shown in Southport (1939).
7. 'A legacy of the West Indies Trade', 1933/4. An evening view of the corner of Second Terrace at SP. Originally titled 'October Moonlight' when shown at the Southport Palette Club. Later shown at the Royal Academy (1935) and in Manchester (1936)
8. ‘Sunset’. 1936/1951. Shown at the Southport Palette Club in 1936, the children were added in 1951.
9. ‘Ocean Waves’ 1951.
10. 'The Rainbow', Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, 1912. Highly praised for Philip's ability to depict rain, the first sunlight, and a double rainbow in a marine scene. Shown and re-shown in many cities, including a wartime exhibition at the RBA in 1915. Given to sisters Anne and Helen for their home Walnut Bank in Stodday.
11. Sketch for 'Town Scar Buoy' 1910.
12. ‘Town Scar Buoy’, 1911. Shown at the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.
13. 'Evening Tide', 1933. Philip records that he painted this view of Second Terrace and boats in 1933 and 1953. It's thought this is the first version. See next for the second version.
14. 'Evening Tide' 1953. This may be the second version (see 13), though it is not certain.
15. 'When my Ship Comes Home', 1922. Watercolour. A special request for a miniature marine painting by Philip for the Queen Mary's Dolls House.
16. Possibly an original sketch (c. 1902) for a later work, 'Isle of Ulysses, Corfu', 1936.
17. ‘The Isle of Ulysses, Corfu’, 1936. Shown at the Southport Palette Club and the Royal British Academy in 1937.
18. 'The Blue Ionian Sea, Swimming Race, Corfu’ 1902/1949. An older painting reworked by Philip and given to his neice Fiona and her husband Peter Hall..
19. ‘Taring the Main Sail’, 1934. Shown at the Southport Palette Club in 1935 and in Doncaster (1936). In the collection of the Doncaster City Gallery and Museum.
20. An imagined transmuted Dolphin c.1930
Philip in the 1930s at the sundial in Dolphin House garden
Paintings not yet identified
1. A ship aground.
2. Watercolour of Schooner
3. Watercolour, perhaps in Scotland.
4. Amazon? Nile?
5. 'The Hen Coop' no date
7. Unknown.
8. A fully constructed oil painting by Philip, perhaps, Scotland.
9. Perhaps Scotland.
10. Maybe 'October in the Grampians', 1908. Only a guess.
11. Unknown.
12. Perhaps this is a family dog, but the title and date unknown.
13. Calm coastal scene with a Sailing boat, perhaps Salcombe?
14. Ship in still water, perhaps Scotland?
15. Perhaps Scotland?
16. Perhaps Cornwall?
17. Perhaps Scotland?
18. Perhaps Cornwall?
19. Perhaps Scotland?
20. Perhaps Cornwall?
21. Watercolour of Tug.
22. Unknown.
23. Perhaps Cornwall?
24. Perhaps Southport?
25. Perhaps Scotland?
26. Carsaig, Isle of Mull. Title and date unknown.
27. A water colour, possibly a product of Philip's visit to the Amazon Delta.
28. Sketch of Second Terrace at low water.
Philip in 1934 with the painting “Taring the Mainsail”