Breathing 2

Many of the images like this can be found in Going Forth By Day”a small compilation from a larger work titled Contemporary Book of the Dead.


Order From:
Going Forth By Day - Amazon


Breathing 2 - Watercolor on Papyrus

Wendy Doniger on Phillips

From A Contemporary Book of the Dead

"As these images pile up on your retina they reinforce one another in ways that make you feel that everything has its reflection and its shadow, that one life is always doubled in another. At the same time, the medium, painting on thin pieces of papyrus, suggests the fragile wrappings of mummies, the shrouds of tombs, the survival of ancient wisdom."

Wendy Doniger Co- Author of A Contemporary Book of the Dead
Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Religions, University of Chicago

My Left Eye In A Canopic Jar - Watercolor on Papyrus

Phillips At the Saatchi Showdown

Diurnal Journal of the Sun is now in the
Saatchi showdown competition.

Don’t miss your chance to vote on this work.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/showdown/index.php?showpic=259310

Showdown ends March 14 2010

Phillips and Companions will Eye Ay

“i would like to explore the tomb and the story of ay, the egyptian pharaoh who somewhat followed king tut.

“recently we heard that zahi hawass has discovered that tut was not murdered but died of measles. the traditional story is that ay murdered the boy king for his own selfish purposes.”

Tutankhamun's death at the age of 18 or 19, together with his failure to produce an heir, left a power vacuum that his Grand Vizier Ay was quick to fill. The grounds on which Ay based his successful claim to power are not entirely clear.

More Info: AY -- WIKIPEDIA

The Fish

The fish swam upward from the depth

Hawass Praises Phillips Papyrus

“I am not surprised that in his art, John Ransom Phillips has been inspired to create his own vision of this Book (of the Dead.)

As an Egyptologist, I can see in his paintings images of the past and a reaffirmation of the vision that was essential to Egypt’s life and art.

It is one that provides us even today with a total view of living fully in all its art forms in preparation for the life that is to come.”

Hawass Update: JRP Studio

Morgan Library Spurns Papyrus Works

Barbara Fultz, long time collector of John Ransom Phillips and Tribeca business woman recently offered to donate three works on papyrus from the Book of the Dead series to the Morgan Library. This series is beautifully illustrated in Phillips recent publication “A Contemporary Book of the Dead”

She was inspired to make the donation after hearing that the Morgan has begun to collect contemporary works on paper. Attending a recent Blake show at the Morgan, she was struck by the parallels between Phillips and William Blake, particularly their integration of text and image.

The Morgan’s response was “Thank you very much for sending the information about John Ransom Phillips. Since it is not within our collecting scope, we are returning your materials.”

“Oh well”, reported Ms. Fultz somewhat surprised. Two of the three works that were to be donated were:

Catching A Boat In The Sky

Breathing