AW730: John JA Dixon "Our Feathered Friends" Oil on Canvas Painting of Two Parrots Circa 1917

John JA Dixon (American, Born 1888 Philadelphia, PA) "Our Feathered Friends" Oil on Canvas Circa 1917 Signed, Dated J.A. Dixon.

The painting is accompanied by a handwritten artist's note describing the artists experiences while visiting the Philadelphia Zoological Society which inspired the painting (see photos of the note and transcription below). Reading this you will really get a sense of the artist's journey into another World with his feathered friends.

Dimensions: Sight: 26" x 20"; Frame: 31.25" x 25.25"

Provenance: With Bonhams / Butterfield Auctions April 3, 2005.

The accompanying artist note reads:

"After a somewhat long and tedious Journey through city streets, melting asphalt under an August Sun, with easel, canvas and heavy paint Box, I finally found myself before the ticket master's window of the Philadelphia Zoological Society.

Presenting my card of Admittance, I proceed along the walks between terraces of green, - and low bushes. The distant scream of the peafowl casts the first enchanting note on the air. Trudging along further, the author of the shrill note presents himself in kingly attire, Long golden train studded with deep blue blotches and emerald, proudly advancing toward me and looking up, seems to say to me, "Welcome, you are our friend"! A little further along a trio of Deer come scampering to the base of their run, and scraping their horns between. Going up, I set my paint box on the edge of the walk, and stroke their wet noses, and this seems to please them and they run off again to play.

This day the Parrot House is my quest, and entering a wild scramble of jungle voices, with an Occasional "Halloa"!  rising above the dim, confirms the fact that I am in the right place. The keeper's welcome "Good morning" comes next and now I am perfectly at home and transported as it so often seems, to another World.

Unpacking my sketching traps and setting my palette, I proceed to work over a faint outline indicating the composition and touch upon touch of the brush over the canvas. After three or four hours of concentrated Work, the picture begins to loom up, and the green blue macaw in the foreground is formed, with another one under way, perched upon his pewter tray lazily crackling sunflower sees between his powerful jaws.

Presently from over my shoulder I hear a voice that says - "Its beginning to take shape!" Looking backward I perceive the kindly smile of there superintendent of the Gardens, who, on his rounds through the various animal houses, is interested in Art also.

And so after possibly two or three happy days thus spent among my friends from many lands, the canvas entitled - Our Feathered Friends - (The title which first appeared in the Catalogue of the Art Club exhibition) is carefully carried home, and after several weeks in steady, natural process of drying behind a safe glass, The work is ready for Exhibition.

But before concluding any narrative, it might be interesting to mention the overflowing of coloured children through the doorway of the parrot house. they had been out on a Sunday School picnic in the Gardens. They swarmed in & completely filling the room. The bright shining faces all intent on the artist at work. One little boy edging in and standing on tip toes exclaims, looking at the picture, " Man, Look at dat Lawz-e-e!" 

John J. A. Dixon"