Art-Bio.Com, Items of Intrest of Harry Davis

Items of Interest about Harry A. Davis

In 1938 Harry was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome in Painting. This allowed him to study at the American Academy in Rome and travel in many countries, including Italy, Greece, Egypt and France. This three year study was cut short with the outbreak of war in Europe. His third year of study was completed at the academy in New York City. Harry later returned to Europe and Africa when he enlisted in the Army in 1942. When enlisting, he was asked his profession. Since his background was in art, he was assigned to do camouflage in Africa. While visiting Italy, he ran across an old friend from his American Academy days. This friend, now a high ranking officer, felt that Harry's talents were being wasted in camouflage and had him transferred to become a combat-artist with the Fifth Army Historical Unit in Italy. Harry did this from 1944 to 1946.

Harry proudly displaying the Prix de Rome.

Before his Prix de Rome years, Harry studied at the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis. He was at Herron from 1933 until 1938, when he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In 1946, after the war, he returned to Herron School of Art as a teacher of drawing and painting. He was made a full professor in 1970, under the aegis of I.U.P.U.I. The University proclaimed Harry a Professor Emeritus after his retirement in 1983. In 1971, while on the Herron faculty, Harry was recognized for twenty five years of teaching with a grant which he used to search the British Isles for castles and abbeys to paint. For the Indiana Sesquicentennial in 1972, Herron had an exhibition of Harry's work, entitled "My City." Harry also painted thirty-two works for "A Segment of the Historic Ohio River Valley," an exhibit for the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976.

Herron School's Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Harry had been a member of The Hoosier Salon since 1947 and had won over 30 Hoosier Salon Awards, including 10 Best of Show. In 2004 he was given special recognition for having had works chosen for 50 Annual Exhibitions. Throughout his career, Harry's work had received nine prizes in international exhibits, eighteen awards in National shows and more than one hundred sixty-five awards statewide.

Member of The Hoosier Salon since 1947

More Items of Interest about Harry A. Davis

Sources of information: From interviews with Harry A. Davis

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