26th Feb, 2025 11:00
Timothy Adair Phillips (Canadian, 1929 - 2004)
'The Boat'
initials TAR (lower right)
oil on board
20 x 26 cm, unframed
Footnote:
Timothy Adair Phillips was the son of Mrs Eric Phillips, whose portrait Salvador Dali completed in the 1953 (See - https://www.salvador-dali.org/en/artwork/catalogue-raisonne-paintings/resized_imatge.php?obra=1143&imatge=0). At the time Timothy was already studying at the Slade School of Art and Byam-Shaw School of Art, and as a consequence of his mother's portrait Dali offered Timothy the role of assistant. Timothy worked at Cadaqués from 1953 to 1962, describing his role as 'doing mathematical calculations' and 'very minor parts of lesser pictures'. During his time with Dali he socialised with Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray.
In August 1953 Dali described Timothy for 'Diary of a Genius', "Philips is a young Canadian painter, a fanatical Dalinian. An angel sent him to me. I have set up a studio for him in a shed. Already he draws with great probity whatever I need, which allows me to dwell at length on the details I like best, with less feeling of guilt.'
Later, Dali also writes, 'Phillips paints my picture meticulously. To finish it I shall only need to undo everything he has done.'
Sold for £280
Timothy Adair Phillips (Canadian, 1929 - 2004)
'The Boat'
initials TAR (lower right)
oil on board
20 x 26 cm, unframed
Footnote:
Timothy Adair Phillips was the son of Mrs Eric Phillips, whose portrait Salvador Dali completed in the 1953 (See - https://www.salvador-dali.org/en/artwork/catalogue-raisonne-paintings/resized_imatge.php?obra=1143&imatge=0). At the time Timothy was already studying at the Slade School of Art and Byam-Shaw School of Art, and as a consequence of his mother's portrait Dali offered Timothy the role of assistant. Timothy worked at Cadaqués from 1953 to 1962, describing his role as 'doing mathematical calculations' and 'very minor parts of lesser pictures'. During his time with Dali he socialised with Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray.
In August 1953 Dali described Timothy for 'Diary of a Genius', "Philips is a young Canadian painter, a fanatical Dalinian. An angel sent him to me. I have set up a studio for him in a shed. Already he draws with great probity whatever I need, which allows me to dwell at length on the details I like best, with less feeling of guilt.'
Later, Dali also writes, 'Phillips paints my picture meticulously. To finish it I shall only need to undo everything he has done.'
