Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 9 works by Richard Phelps in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals Richard Phelps left, the most famous is Peregrine Palmer (1703 1704–1762), DCL (1764), in the collection of the Examination Schools, Oxford. Close behind it come Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman (1751) and Thomas Goldney III (1751). Our catalog holds 9 works by Richard Phelps; the gallery has kept the 9 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
This oil painting is titled Peregrine Palmer (1703 1704–1762), DCL. The portrait was executed by the artist Richard Phelps. It dates to about 1764. The work is held within the collection of the Examination Schools, University of Oxford.
The 4 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Richard Phelps | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Dunster Castle |
4 | Margaret Luttrell (1747–1792), Mrs John Henry Southcote, as a Child, Margaret Luttrell (1726–1766), Mrs Henry Fownes Luttrell, Margaret Luttrell (1726–1766), Mrs Henry Fownes Luttrell | |
 Examination Schools |
Oxford | 1 | Peregrine Palmer (1703 1704–1762), DCL |
 Bristol Museum - Art Gallery |
Bristol | 1 | Thomas Goldney III |
 National Portrait Gallery |
London | 1 | Bampfylde Moore Carew |
The selection follows Richard Phelps over 15 years, from 1750 to 1764, keeping the finest originals of each year.
Pick a year to see its originals.
This oil painting is titled Peregrine Palmer (1703 1704–1762), DCL. The portrait was executed by the artist Richard Phelps. It dates to about 1764. The work is held within the collection of the Examination Schools, University of Oxford.
Peregrine Palmer (1703 1704–1762), DCL (1764), Examination Schools, Oxford. Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman (1751) and Thomas Goldney III (1751) come next.
54 years old: Peregrine Palmer (1703 1704–1762), DCL dates from 1764, and Richard Phelps was born in 1710.
Our catalog holds 9 works by Richard Phelps, dated from 1750 to 1764.
Mostly in Dunster Castle, Examination Schools (Oxford) and Bristol Museum - Art Gallery (Bristol). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1751: 2 of the 9 works on this page were made then, Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman among them.
On this page, the earliest is Bampfylde Moore Carew (1750) and the latest Peregrine Palmer (1703 1704–1762), DCL (1764).
Margaret Luttrell (1747–1792), Mrs John Henry Southcote, as a Child, Margaret Luttrell (1726–1766), Mrs Henry Fownes Luttrell and Margaret Luttrell (1726–1766), Mrs Henry Fownes Luttrell: the Dunster Castle holds 4 of the works on this page.
Beyond his portraiture, Phelps possessed considerable skill in landscape design, notably demonstrated during his involvement with Dunster Castle. He skillfully blended formal gardens—designed for visual impact and social prestige—with informal landscapes that celebrated the region's natural splendor. This harmonious fusion exemplifies Phelps’s artistic vision—one rooted in observation, understanding of aesthetics, and a desire to elevate the environment.
Phelps’s artistic pursuits intersected with influential figures of his time—including Henry Luttrell and George Frideric Handel. His correspondence reveals a keen engagement with intellectual currents and artistic debates, demonstrating his role as a participant in the broader cultural landscape of 18th-century Britain.
