A.F.Lydon

I have so far been unable to find any biographical details on A.F.Lydon apart from the fact that he was a very successful artist who illustrated many books about birds, freshwater fishes and other natural history subjects.

 Along with Ludlow, Lydon was about the most prolific and best illustrator of canaries during the 1880s - 1910 period. The illustration at left is taken from< 'Canaries, Hybrids and British Birds' edited by John Robson and S.H. Lewer, which contains about a dozen coloured plates by A.F. Lydon - the remainder by E.F. Bailey.

What is most valuable about Lydon's work is that he was a professional illustrator - not a bird-keeper- and we can be almost 100% certain that the images of canaries which he produced truly reflect the birds he was asked to portray. This Border canary from the period around 1900 therefore is a very good indication of what a 'real' champion Border looked like shortly after the formation of the Border Canary Club.
Clear Yellow Border circa 1890 by A.F. Lydon
 

 
Similarly, these Yorkshire canaries painted by Lydon around 1900 must be a reasonably accurate depiction of the winning birds of the time. As a commerical artist he would presumably have been provided with examples of top birds to record and paint.

It is interesting to compare and contrast these graceful Yorkshires of yesteryear, with modern champions. However it is also clear that Lydon was indulging some artistic license in this picture since it is distinctly stylised.		 Clear Yellow, Clear Buff, Ticked Yellow and Cinnamon Marked Yorkshires

Clear Yellow, Clear Buff, Ticked Yellow and 
Cinnamon Marked Yellow Yorkshire Canaries
 
Once again, Lydon has left us an accurate historical record of the beautiful but now extinct London-Fancy.

Here we see the ornge body with jet-black: flights, tail and legs, which made the variety unique.

This appears to be a highly 'realistic' illustration, presumably drawn from life.
London Fancy Canary by A.F. Lydon