Sarah Cecilia Harrison HRHA (1863 - 1941) Self- portrait, h...

Hammer

€7,500

Sarah Cecilia Harrison HRHA (1863 - 1941) Self- portrait, half length Oil on canvas, 53 x 43cm (21 x 17) Provenance: Collection of the Hon. Francis D. Murnaghan Jr., thence by descent Sarah Cecilia Harrison, an eminent figure in both the artistic and social spheres of her era, is celebrated as one of the preeminent portrait painters of her generation. Renowned for her artistic prowess, she was equally distinguished by her pioneering activism. Notably, Harrison made history as the first woman elected to Dublin Corporation, passionately championing the rights of Dublin’s underprivileged. From her office on 7 St. Stephen’s Green, she met weekly with those in need, ardently listening to and addressing their grievances. A fervent advocate for the arts, she played an instrumental role in the campaign for a modern gallery to house Hugh Lane’s collection, a legacy to which she made a personal contribution with her 1908 portrait of Thomas and Anna Haslam—leaders in Ireland’s suffrage movement—gifted to Dublin’s Municipal Gallery at Lane’s behest. Born into affluence in Holywood, County Down, Harrison, known to many as “Cecilia,” came from a lineage of reform and resilience. She was a great-grand-niece of Henry Joy McCracken, the United Irishman, and Mary Ann McCracken, a formidable social reformer and abolitionist. Her father’s passing prompted a family relocation to London when she was just ten years old, setting her on a journey that would merge art and advocacy. Harrison received her early education at Queen’s College, London, where her exceptional talent was soon recognized. Awarded a silver medal for painting by University College London, she then studied under the tutelage of Alphonse Legros at the Slade School of Fine Art, securing the esteemed Slade scholarship. Her artistic education was further enriched by travels across Paris, Italy, and Amsterdam, which left an indelible mark on her technique and vision. In 1889, Harrison returned to Dublin, establishing herself as a leading portraitist in Ireland. Over her prolific career, she exhibited sixty works at the Royal Hibernian Academy and submitted numerous others to London’s Royal Academy. An honorary academician of the Royal Ulster Academy of Fine Arts, Harrison’s stature as an artist was matched by her dedication to social causes. Her brother, Henry Harrison, a Member of Parliament and supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell, mirrored her commitment to public service. In 1912, Harrison’s election as the first female city councillor for Dublin Corporation marked a milestone in her lifelong campaign for social justice. She championed the extension of poor relief to the able-bodied unemployed and worked tirelessly for women’s rights. Harrison was also closely involved in Hugh Lane’s ambitious efforts to establish a gallery of modern art in Dublin. Following Lane’s tragic death aboard the Lusitania in 1915, she revealed their engagement, and her 1914 portrait of Lane stands as one of her most iconic works. Harrison remained unmarried, a resolute figure whose legacy endures in both the cultural and civic history of Ireland.