The Phillips Collection Reproduction Oil Paintings

Who Founded the Phillips Collection?

The Phillips Collection was opened to the public in 1921 by Duncan Phillips and his wife, Marjorie Acker Phillips, in their home in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.

Named the Philips Memorial Gallery, after the tragic deaths of his brother James Phillips and his father, Duncan Clinch Phillips, in 1917 and 1918, respectively, Phillips exhibited the family paintings in a small area of the north wing of the house.

James Laughlin of the Laughlin Steel Company was Duncan Phillips's grandfather.  His father, Duncan Clinch Phillips, founded a window glass company in Pittsburg. As such, Phillips’ substantial financial resources enabled the purchase of significant and iconic works of art.

What are Famous Oil Paintings in the Collection?

As a published art critic, Phillips had a good eye. So he began collecting Renaissance oil paintings by El Greco and the Rococo artworks of Francisco Goya.

Phillips felt his choice of paintings reflected art that influenced subsequent art movements.

When the collection had reached over 600 paintings, the Phillips family moved out of the 21^st building in 1930 so that the entire house could be turned into an art museum.

Today the Phillips Collection consists of over 3,000 artworks, mainly by European and American artists. Undoubtedly one of the most famous oil paintings in the Phillips Collection is Renoir Luncheon at the Boating Party.  This oil on canvas painting was purchased in 1923 from the son of legendary art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, for $125,000.

American artists are also strongly represented, including oil paintings by Winslow Homer and James Abbott McNeill Whistler.

Impressionist Oil Paintings in the Phillips Collection

The Phillips Collection contains an outstanding display of works by famous artists.

The French Impressionists are represented by many of the most famous artists of the period, including oil paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Paul Cezanne.

Van Gogh famous paintings include The Road Menders and Entrance to the Public Gardens in Arles.

Monet oil paintings on display are the Road to Vetheuil; a landscape scene completed when Monet and his family were living in Vetheuil. Val Saint Nicolas, Near Dieppe, is another Monet oil painting acquired by the collection in 1959.

Cezanne’s Mont Sainte Victor painting, circa 1886 by Paul Cezanne, is on display in the Museum.  It is just of the many mountain paintings Cezanne completed during his lifetime.

Religious Art acquired by the Phillips Collection.

Renaissance oil paintings include The Repentant Saint Peter by El Greco, painted in the early 1590’s. 

The purchase of this artwork shows how Duncan Phillips could see the link between the religious art of El Greco and the Mannerist painters of the 16^th and 17^th centuries. A further link ensued to the Expressionist artists of the 20^th century. 

Another religious painting is Goya’s version of the same title, The Repentant St. Peter, completed much later in around 1820.