Farewell to one of the greats Realist painter Rolfe Harris has died

Rolfe Harris, one of the Bahamas’ most renowned realist painters, died at his Eastern Road home on Sunday, July 30.

He was predeceased by this wife, Alice Rose Harris (née Feniak). Mr Harris will put to rest this Saturday, August 5, in a private funeral service at Woodlawn Gardens.

Born in Nassau in 1942, Mr Harris created artwork that was highly sought after by top collectors around the world.

As a young man, he worked on charter boats. He spent more than 10 years on the water, learning all about its multi-faceted wonders.

What he saw and experienced on the seas, and on land, he committed to canvas in vivid colours, painting a picture of

Bahamian culture; everything from the vibrant Junkanoo parades to the raging seas.

He was known for his delicate stilllife paintings of common, everyday objects, as well his undersea scenes. And he was acclaimed for his profound understanding of how light is filtered through water.

Mr Harris tended to work on location; starting with a detailed pencil sketch of his subject. He then returned to his chosen site throughout the painting process, which could take up to three months.

Over the decades, his paintings, of which he produced only a handful every year, became to be among the most valuable in the country.

His work hangs in many private and corporate collections, including the Central Bank of the Bahamas, the Dawn Davies Collection and that of the late author Arthur Hailey.