Emperor Napoleon I, Emperor of France (1769–1821) as First Consul

Phillips's portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte as First Consul from 1802, held in a National Trust property, documents an unusual commission—a British portrait painter producing an image of the man who was both Britain's most dangerous enemy and Europe's most discussed political figure. The Peace of Amiens (1802) briefly normalized relations between Britain and France, and this portrait may have been produced during the short period when direct contact between British and French subjects was possible. Phillips's engagement with the Napoleonic image—through both this First Consul portrait and later versions of the coronation robes—placed him in an interesting position as a British painter documenting the figure who had transformed European politics.

The consular portrait presents Napoleon in the civilian dress of the First Consul rather than military uniform. Phillips follows established portrait conventions while potentially working from prints or other artists' likenesses rather than direct observation. The handling is professional, serving the interest of a British patron in possessing an image of the French leader.