The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-07
Leonard ". volk, the Celebrated Sculptor,
Talks of His Old Friend-His
Noted Subjects.


ten, he was in search of fortune that
might come to him through mining spec
ulation OF discovery.
ltMr. Phillips was resident of Chicago for
many years, and his artistic work adorns
hundred homes in the city. One of his
most intimate friends was Leonard w.
volk, the sculptor. In speaking of the por-
trait painter Mr.. Volk said:
'"Ths last time ever saw John Phillips
was in Minneapolis in 1886. He was there
with his wife and daughter at the opening
of the exposition. Since that time believe
he has been in the mining country, treasur-
ing the fond hope that he would one day
become rich. Phillips was brilliant man
and often pointed to some citizen OF medi-
ocre talent who had amassed fortune and
wondered Why the fates had not been kind
to him when common creatures were 90
blessed. He was generous, and / have
often heard him wish that he might have
money enough to help all the struggling
his last cent with an artist in want, and
even borrow money for them.
III he had devoted his life to art he
might have been one Of the greatest paint
sts Of his day, but mere circumstance
wrought his failure. ] have often heard
never censured himself for doing some
thing which, at the time, he had done de-
liberately. Once his physician told him to
stop work for awhile. This must have been
about 1867: He went to West Virginia and
invested his money in an oil we'll. A few
his interest but declined to sell. Another
we'll was drilled a short distance away, and
when the flow of oil began, his we'll dried
mp and was not worth shilling. This ex-
perience turned his brain and, although he
worked as 81 paint or, his heart was, not in
= - Il IL.
sonoe no x1AAss into the Lake Superior
country rs4ormed e svoc: COMPANY to
mine /pcfd. The Phillips l..;ne is still
rsnoAh, but it never amounted tn any
thing. He also was interested in Honduras
mines. but never realized returns frol,
them. He was an admirer of physical
achievements, and kept track of John L.
Sullivan in everything he did. He sought
the acquaintance of well-known actors and
was an intimate friend of John McCul-
Tough .!N: ph;,,;n. .,,... ,,.ao monor hn+
never kept it. believe il he had been pos
sessed of million dollars he would have
given it away to needy people. He was a
Scotchman and never tired of quoting
Scotch poetry and singing the praises of
Scotch heroes. His most intimate friends,
perhaps, were among the Scotch people in
the city, although he was widely known"
John Phillips was personally known in
Chicago since 1868. He was born in Pals
ley, Renfrewshire. May 8, 1922. The ruling
passion of his life was q fondness for draw
ing. and even when child he sketched the
parents decided to come to America in 1886,
and not wishing to take their H-year-old
son with them he was left with relatives at
home. They wrote him letters from To-
ronto, Quebec, which SO interested him in
tho new country that he formed plans to
9-S> kl,1s, L., 4
his parents had been gone little over a
year the boy. then nearly Is years of age,
Get nil for New York. He was on his way
TO Toronto and reached Rochester, N. Y. in
due time. There he learned that his par
ents had passed through that city three
He could not 60 back home, for his money
was gone, 10 he sought aud obtained work
ON the Langworth farm and nursery near
Rochester. For four years he followed the
ploW and Cultivator, and after his days
work was done he sat in the little log cab
h and made pictures of farm scenes.
It was ct this time that he started on his
career ~ an artist and portrait painter.
he left the farm and for five years devoted
his entire time to his profession. One day
he decided to 70 to Albany and ask the pol
iticians and statesmen at the capital for
nently successful. He painted the portraits
from life Of Governor Young, of New York.
Ira Harris, Henry O'Reilly, Of the court of
appeals, besides number of the state SEN
etora. Tho following year he married the
daughter of Major Hartshorn, of Angelica,
Alegany county, N. Y, and soon afterward
started for Porto Rico, in the West Indies.
He was fortunate in this venture and made
money rapidly. In 1852 the artist left for
Europe to pursue his studies. taking his
wife with him. He carried back to Scot
land valuable letters of recommendation
81 yAkN \ 4 @.
Watson Gordon, of Edinburg. From Sit
John the artist was sent to 81.
Edward Landseer and then to. Johi
Phillip, the painter of the famous
gypsy scenes. Mr.. Phillips soon went tc
Madrid to study the works of Velasquez
Murillo, Titan and Van Dyke. During the
two years which followed the artist made
wonderful progress, and attracted SO much
attention that he was noticed prominently
by Tuckerman in his book entitled "Ameri
can Artists After visiting Italy and pass
ing few weeks in Paris, Mr.. Phillips re-
turned to America and opened studio IL
New York. He was in the same building
occupied by George Innes and Arthur Tate
and afterward by James Hart. In the win.
ter OF 1S56e59 he was in Cnba engaged il
painting portraits of Captain Gen
eral Concha and others, but his wife becam.
both went to Key West, and afterward t,
New York, where they arrived in May, 1859
Within the next two years Mr.. Phillip
painted the portraits of Governor King
William II. Seward Thurlow Weed AM
Lieutenant General G. w. Patterson. I,
the spring Of 1861 he went to Montreal t
paint the portrait of Henry Moulson TO
Aagill college.
ThroaRh oyerwork the artist became sic
and was advised by his physician to res
About this time he invested all his SAVING
IN the famous ''On Rock" we'll in West VT
ginia. Within four years he was a banl
Tupt and in debt. He was obliged to beoi
life again. and naturally turned his fat
toward Chicago. arriving in this city
1858. He vas surprised to find that throuc
Mr.. Tuckerman's book he was we'll know
and Vas received by Chicago artists wit
open arms. He became a member of I'll
Academy of Design, and ever since b.
been warmly attached TO that institutio
He became one Of the leading portra
painters Of the country and his work I
ceiyed the highest appreciation. AT 4
time of the great FIRE he had painted hu
dreds of portraits, among which were tho
Of General Phil 81. Sheridan, Thorn
Ewing, Wilhnr F. Storey, John B. Rice.
D. Ogden, Alfred Cowlee, Robert Lai
Collier, Louis and Christian Wahl. Mi
thew LaAin, Philo Carpenter and S.
RolndA H also painted the, n