Although he was born in Wiltshire and spent some of his childhood (1912-15) in Britis h Columbia, Harrison lived most of his adult life in Norfolk. He was very involved with the bird life and conservation of the Broads and every year donated one of his watercolours to the Norfolk Naturalist's Trust for their Christmas cards.
Harrison's talent as an artist was precocious, it was recognised at the age of six but it was not until some years later and after having served in the First World War, that he went on to study at the Slade School of Art in London. Harrison was a regular visitor to Scotland, often with his friend the naturalist, Seton Gordon. In Scotland, Gordon and Harrison studied the Golden Eagles and as a result of their holidays together, Harrison later illustrated Gordon's book, Days with the Golden Eagle, published in 1927.
Other publications by Harrison include Bird Portraits, published in 1949, which was both written and illustrated by Harrison. Bird Portraits contains many of Harrison's delightful field sketches and a number of finished watercolours including 'Launching into Space' (the frontispiece), the original drawing for which was sold in these Rooms, 16 March 1993, lot 83 (.3000). After Bird Portraits Harrison was commissioned to illustrate Jean Delacour's monograph on The Pheasants of the World and in 1968 he completed the illustrations for Brown and Amadon's two volume publication, Birds of Prey of the World, (see lot ...). In addition to working in England and Scotland, Harrison travelled and painted in Iceland, in order to study the Wildfowl and in later life he also became a regular visitor to Africa, where he recorded both the animal and bird life but with particular interest in the larger birds of prey (see lots ...).
Until his death in 1985, Harrison was a regular exhibitor at the Tryon Gallery. It was either through the Tryon Gallery or through direct commissions from the artist that the current collection was formed, both by the owner and his father before him, between 1943 and the mid 1960s
John Cyril Harrison (1898-1985)
Details
John Cyril Harrison (1898-1985)
Goldfinches among Thistles
signed 'J.C. Harrison' and inscribed 'Goldfinches' on the reverse; pencil and watercolour with touches of white heightening
12 7/8 x 9in. (327 x 228mm.)
Goldfinches among Thistles
signed 'J.C. Harrison' and inscribed 'Goldfinches' on the reverse; pencil and watercolour with touches of white heightening
12 7/8 x 9in. (327 x 228mm.)
Provenance
With The Tryon Gallery