[Harrison, George Henry] 1816-1846 :[Portrait of William Swainson engaged in ornithological research. 1836?]

William Swainson seated at a table, leaning on a writing desk, writing with a quill pen, a dead parrot in front of him. He appears to be between his twenties and his forties and the painting must have been completed in London, before he came to New Zealand.

Likely to have been painted after Swainson's visit to Brazil in 1817/1818 but may also have been painted as late as 1838/1839, when he was again working on a publication about exotic birds. The subject is shown with brown hair, but with a bald top. His face appears youthful. Other portraits suggest that he began to lose his hair relatively young.

Mary Swainson (later Marshall) had her portrait painted in 1836 by G. H. Harrison. She mentions in a journal or letter that Mr Harrison also painted her father in oils.

The suggestion that the artist G. H. Harrison completed this work comes from the family. Other original portraits in family hands are also said to be by this artist. William Swainson's son William John mentions that a large oil of his father painted by G. H. Harrison remained in England when the family came to New Zealand. Acccording to Sheila Natusch, Swainson's biographer, the "Victorian naturalist" mentions a watercolour portrait by Harrison of Swainson at Kew Gardens. Mary Swainson (daughter) mentions a portrait by Harrison of her father "in oil and very like". Without other examples of Harrison's work in oils for comparison it is not possible to be certain that this portrait is by Harrison. See Artists' File in Drawings & Prints for further information about portraits of William Swainson.

Other Titles - Artist unknown. William Swainson 1830s?

Quantity: 1 oil(s).

Physical Description: Oil on canvas 894 x 692 mm (sight)

Provenance: By descent through the Swainson family to James Anson of Wanganui

Alternative form available: First transparency listed has reflected light from the flash in upper half of background