Arthur Johnson Memorial Library

Phillips, Bert

Historian The Historian Bert Phillips - Painting Oil

Purchased by subscription and donated to the library

This painting was brought to Raton in 1915 and displayed at Vaught’s Candy Shop. It had been an exhibit at the National Academy of Design in New York City where it was recognized as one of the most meritorious art productions of the year. It was then valued at 1,000.00, but because the artist wanted it to stay in the Southwest he sacrificed it for 350.00 by May 18, 1917 it was paid for by the citizens of Raton.

Bert Geer Phillips was born in Hudson, New York in 1868 and was trained in fine art at the Art Students’ League in New York City, when studying at Julian Academy in Paris, he met Joseph Sharp. Sharp spoke passionately about the landscape and people of the New Mexico Pueblos, urging Bert to travel to the southwest who made the move to Taos in 1898. Bert served as the founder of the Taos Society of Artists. He passed away on June 16, 1956 in San Diego, California.




Phillips, Bert 1868-1956


Oil Painting
Indian Scene
Indian Family

AJML Art Walkthrough 37