Ronald Harrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ronald Harrison
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 18 March 1940 Athlone, Cape Town
|
| Died | 28 June 2011 Cape Town, South Africa
|
| Occupation | Artist |
| Parent(s) | William and Jeanette Harrison |
Ronald Harrison (born March 18, 1940 – died June 28, 2011) was a talented artist from South Africa. He is most famous for his powerful painting from 1962 called Black Christ. This artwork made people think deeply about important issues.
Contents
About Ronald Harrison
Ronald Harrison was born on March 18, 1940. His parents, Jeanette and William Harrison, lived in Athlone, a part of Cape Town. From a young age, Ronald showed a natural gift for art. When he was just eight years old, he saw police use force against a crowd. This event likely influenced his later art.
His Art and the Black Christ Painting
In 1954, Ronald started attending Alexander Sinton Secondary School in Athlone. There, he learned more about painting and developed his skills.
In 1962, South Africa was under a system called apartheid. This was a set of unfair laws that separated people based on their race. During this time, Ronald Harrison created his most famous painting, Black Christ. It was shown for the first time at St Luke's Church in Salt River, a suburb of Cape Town.
The painting showed African National Congress leader Albert Luthuli as Christ on the cross. He was shown with two Roman soldiers on either side. These soldiers looked like the prime minister of South Africa at the time, Hendrik Verwoerd, and the justice minister, John Vorster. This painting was a strong statement against the apartheid government.
What Happened After the Painting
Because of his painting, Ronald Harrison faced serious trouble from the government. He was arrested and treated badly by the security police. The government also banned the painting, meaning it was not allowed to be seen in South Africa.
To keep it safe, the Black Christ painting was secretly taken to the United Kingdom. It stayed there until 1997, when it was finally brought back to South Africa.
Today, the original Black Christ painting is kept at the South African National Gallery. A copy of the painting can be seen at the offices of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Ronald Harrison's Later Life
Ronald Harrison passed away on June 28, 2011. He died from a heart attack at his niece's home in Mitchell's Plain, Cape Town. His art continues to be an important part of South African history.
