Description:It is unclear exactly what this watercolour by John Phillp portrays. The caption 'IP Invt 1799' suggests it was designed by Phillp so it may be from his imagination. However the view through the left hand window to a temple at a poolside is very similar to the Temple of Flora by the Shell Pool in Matthew Boulton's landscaped grounds at Soho. There also appears to be a building in the view through the right hand window which may be the Manufactory. However it was impossible to view both buildings in this way from a single point.
The image is from the Phillp album, a collection of watercolours and sketches by John Phillp (c.1778-1815). Phillp may have been Matthew Boulton's son but the evidence is inconclusive. He was born in Falmouth, Cornwall and came to Soho in 1793. Boulton paid for William Hollins to teach him architectural drawing in 1795. During his time at Soho he produced designs for silver, plate, medals and tokens.
Conservation and cleaning had to be undertaken on the album before it could be scanned and this was carried out as part of the Digital Handsworth Project.