PHILIPS, Frank Albert

1830 - 1905

As Franciscus Albertus Philips, he was born at Ekeren, Antwerp, Belgium on 8 November 1830, son of François Albert Philips (16 February 1798-14 March 1872) and his wife Anne Cornelia née Quadens (4 October 1806-). Young Frank married in Belgium on 7 October 1857, Anna Maria Adriaenssens (21 May 1831-3 January 1888) and had moved to England by 17 June 1869, when as Frank Albert Philips, was a commission picture dealer, living at Queen's Road, Peckham and was of Leicester Square in London when declared bankrupt. In 1871, Frank was a 40-year-old portrait painter and professor of painting, living at 4 Lincoln Terrace, Carlton Road, Camberwell, with his 39-year-old wife Anna Maria and their eight children, Francis Albert 12, Victoria Elisabeth 10, Joanna 9, Susanna Maria. 8, Cornelius Leopoldus 6, Catherina Josephina 4, Louisa all born at Antwerp in Belgium, and 8-month-old Flora born in Kent, who had a successful career in London as an artist, they also retained a 'ladies maid' Maria Geizer, born in Switzerland and a cook. Frank formed an association with the ladies maid Maria Geizer when Anna Maria went to live near Frank's parents and by 1881 Anna Maria was living at Church Street, Dalton, Huddersfield with nine of her children, Frank Albert 22, Victoria Elisabeth 20, Joanna 19, Maria S. 18, Cornelias Leopoldus 16, Josephina C. 14 and Louisa with Flora A. 10, born in Middlesex and Rosa Eleanor 6, born at Dewsbury. His wife Anna Maria died at Highroyd, Moldgreen, Huddersfield in 1888, aged 56, and on 17 November 1890, Francis, giving his age as 59, married at Southwark, London, Margaret Hannah Scott who was buried at Woodhouse St Mark, Leeds on 9 September 1897. Frank spent some time in India where he painted portraits of the local Rajah's and their wives. In April 1891, a 60-year-old portrait painter, living at Carr Street, Leeds with his 35-year-old wife Margaret with three children aged between 14 and 16 all born in Leeds, and a son Henry Paul Victor Reid Philips, born in Bombay, India on 25 June 1889, his mother's name being given at Mary Ann Sturrock and his eldest son Frank Albert, jun., a photographer, died at Presidency Hospital Calcutta on 4 April 1891, aged 32. He married for a third time at Aston, Warwickshire in 1899, Harriet Powell. On 31 August 1899, as Phillips aged 68, of 16 Ashley Avenue, Burmantofts, Leeds, he was admitted to Leeds General Infirmary with a diagnosis of an enlarged prostate/cystitis when he disclosed as having spent time living in India and a life which involved alcohol, being discharged on 7 September 1899. In 1901, Frank was a 70-year-old artist painter, living at 4 Pear Street, Leeds with his third wife, 45-year-old Harriet Philips, who was born at Leeds and a 12-year-old stepson Charles Matthews, who was born at Sheffield. As Frank Albert Philips, he died in a Leeds workhouse on 5 May 1905, aged 74 and buried in a pauper grave. He is sometimes named as Phillips and his painting of Queen Victoria and one of Prince Albert are in the collection of Colchester and Ipswich Museums.

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Works by This Artist