Titles

Only one title has been suggested:

• 'Portrait of Henry Harrison' (1980, YMSM). 1

Description

A portrait of a young man.

Sitter

William Henry Harrison (1837-1886) was the eldest son of Joseph Harrison (1810-1874) and Sarah Poulterer Harrison (1817-1906). He was born in Philadelphia on 23 December 1837. He had several siblings, Margaret (1839–1923), Alice McNeill (1845-1913), Marie Olga (1847-1848), Theodore Leland (1849-1933), and Clara Elizabeth (1855-1940).

His father, Joseph, was a partner in the firm of Eastwick & Harrison, locomotive manufacturers, in Philadelphia, and arrived in Russia early in 1843. The Harrisons knew the Whistlers in St Petersburg; Alice, Marie and Theodore were born in Russia, and William Henry was at school there at the same time as Whistler's brother, William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900). In 1857 Whistler's mother referred to Harrison senior as a possible patron: 'I hope you mean to practise in your native land your art now being acquired. Both Mr Winans & Harrison are patrons of painting!' 2 The Harrisons maintained contact with Whistler's family thereafter, but it is not known if they purchased any works by Whistler.

William Henry Harrison was a boiler maker. He married Mary Rebecca Orne on 29 April 1859, and they had one son, William Henry Harrison, Jr (1860-1932). The son married Helen Skidmore and had two sons, the diplomat Leland (1883-1951) and Jack. In 1876 William and Mary Harrison visited the Whistlers in London. Whistler's mother Anna Matilda Whistler (1804-1881) described their visit:

'My Son the Doct reported to me lately, how surprised he was by a call from Mr & Mrs Henry Harrison, with their son of 16 yrs of age! a very fine lad! My Son thought the companion of his boyhood, much improved since they had last met in Phila. but his once beautiful wife - less so. However it was pleasant to Willie to talk over by gone scenes, & as his only leisure hour is evening, he was invited to join them at their hotel to dine & chat. Jemie was not in his place when they drove to 2 Lindsay [sic] Houses, so they neither saw him or his paintings, tho I hope they may when in London again, he has been at work steadily decorating the walls at Princes Gate, of Mr Leylands elegant New Mansion.' 3