Elena Rossi
Henry Ossawa Tanner was an African-American painter who gained international acclaim for his depiction of landscapes and biblical themes. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1859, Tanner was the son of a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His early artistic interests were developed in Philadelphia, where he spent most of his childhood. In 1891, Tanner moved to Paris, France, where he achieved international recognition for his religious paintings. The deep spirituality reflected in his paintings is attributed to his religious upbringing and his visits to the Holy Land.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for turning to religious painting | Deep spirituality reflecting his upbringing as a minister's son and his visits to the Holy Land |
| First religious painting | "The Resurrection of Lazarus" |
| Awards and recognition | Honorary chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor, France's highest honor, in 1923 |
| First African American to become a full academician of the National Academy of Design in 1927 | |
| Other notable religious paintings | "The Annunciation" (1898), "The Raising of Lazarus" (c. 1897), "The Two Disciples at the Tomb" (c. 1905), "The Good Shepherd" (1903), "The Holy Family" (1909-1910) |
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What You'll Learn
- Henry Ossawa Tanner's father was a minister, which influenced his religious paintings
- Tanner's visit to Philadelphia in 1893 convinced him of the racial prejudice in America
- He moved to Paris, where he felt free from the prejudicial confines of his native country
- Tanner's religious paintings were deeply spiritual, reflecting his upbringing and visits to the Holy Land
- He was the first African-American painter to gain international acclaim
Henry Ossawa Tanner's father was a minister, which influenced his religious paintings
Henry Ossawa Tanner was born on June 21, 1859, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Benjamin Tucker Tanner and Sarah Elizabeth Miller Tanner. His father, Benjamin, was a college-educated teacher and minister who later became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent black denomination in the United States. Sarah, his mother, was a former slave who escaped her enslavers via the Underground Railroad. Benjamin was also a political activist who supported the abolition of slavery.
Tanner was the first of at least five children, and his parents' religious and racial justice beliefs greatly influenced his upbringing. The family moved frequently during Tanner's early years as his father was assigned to various churches and schools. In 1864, the family settled in Philadelphia, where Tanner's early artistic interests were developed. At the age of thirteen, Tanner decided to become an artist when he saw a painter working in Fairmount Park while walking with his father. This incident sparked a conversation with his father that night, which led to Tanner receiving fifteen cents to purchase art supplies the next morning.
Tanner's religious paintings were influenced by his upbringing as a minister's son. His paintings in this genre were deeply spiritual, and he often depicted Christ as a man of humble origin rather than a transcendent, godlike figure. Tanner's religious paintings garnered international acclaim, with art historian Marc Simpson describing "The Resurrection of Lazarus" as a "milestone" in the artist's career. The painting received high critical praise and earned a third-class gold medal in the Salon of 1897.
In addition to his religious paintings, Tanner also explored other themes and styles, including Realism, Symbolism, Impressionism, and Orientalism. He was particularly interested in depicting dignified and sympathetic portrayals of Black people in his artwork, such as in "The Banjo Lesson" (1893). Tanner's curiosity about other cultures and his willingness to evolve as an artist led him to consistently expand his styles and subject matters. He travelled extensively, including to the Holy Land in 1897-1898, which influenced his artistic depictions of biblical themes.
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Tanner's visit to Philadelphia in 1893 convinced him of the racial prejudice in America
Henry Ossawa Tanner was born on June 21, 1859, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Benjamin Tucker and Sarah Miller Tanner. Tanner's father was a college-educated teacher and minister who later became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopalian Church. Sarah Tanner was a former slave. Tanner's family moved frequently during his early years, eventually settling in Philadelphia in 1864. It was here that Tanner's early artistic interests were developed.
Tanner visited Philadelphia for several months in 1893, a trip that convinced him that he could not fight racial prejudice. The artist returned to Paris and focused on painting religious subjects and landscapes. Tanner's work often depicted African-American subjects, including his two most important works, "The Banjo Lesson" (1893) and "The Thankful Poor" (1894). However, after his trip to Philadelphia, Tanner chose to live abroad rather than in America so that his race would not define his art.
Tanner's visit to Philadelphia in 1893 highlighted the racial prejudice prevalent in America at the time. While Philadelphia was known for its deep and passionate colour prejudice, it was not unique in this regard. The widespread feeling of dislike towards African Americans extended beyond the city, impacting their access to employment, public conveniences, amusements, and housing in many places across the country. This prejudice was a significant barrier for African Americans, including Tanner, who sought to pursue their talents and careers without the limitations imposed by racial discrimination.
Tanner's experience in Philadelphia stood in stark contrast to his time in Paris, where he found success and a race-blind environment. From 1896 onwards, his paintings were regularly accepted into the Paris salons, awarded prizes, and praised by critics. In Paris, Tanner's race was rarely mentioned in the reviews, which instead focused on the luminous beauty of his biblical paintings. The artist's international acclaim and success in Europe translated into recognition in the United States, with his works exhibited in major cities and international art expositions.
Tanner's visit to Philadelphia in 1893 served as a turning point, revealing the racial prejudice prevalent in America and solidifying his decision to focus on religious subjects in a European artistic environment that celebrated his talent without the constraints of racial discrimination.
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He moved to Paris, where he felt free from the prejudicial confines of his native country
Henry Ossawa Tanner was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1859, the first of nine children born to Sarah Elizabeth Miller and Benjamin Tucker Tanner. Tanner's father was a minister and teacher who later became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His mother, Sarah, was a former slave who had escaped her captors via the Underground Railroad. She helped to organise one of the first missionary organisations for black women.
Tanner's early life was marked by frequent moves as his father was assigned to various churches and schools. In 1864, the family settled in Philadelphia, where Tanner's early artistic interests were developed. At the age of 13, he decided to become a painter when he saw an artist painting outdoors during a walk in Fairmount Park. Despite his father's initial objections, Tanner pursued his passion for the arts, painting and drawing throughout his teens. In 1879, he enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where he studied under Thomas Eakins, an influential teacher who profoundly impacted his life and work.
In 1891, Tanner's life took a significant turn when he moved to Paris, France. He felt liberated from the racial prejudices that confined him in his native country. Paris offered a culture that seemed more progressive in race relations, allowing Tanner to thrive creatively. He studied at the Académie Julian, experimenting with new techniques and developing his unique style. During this period, he lightened his palette, favouring blues and blue-greens, and began to master the use of light and shadow to create dramatic effects.
Tanner's time in Paris was transformative for his artistic career and personal freedom. He achieved international acclaim, becoming the first African-American painter to receive such recognition. Paris remained his home for the rest of his life, and he routinely exhibited his work in both Paris and the United States, receiving numerous awards and honours.
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Tanner's religious paintings were deeply spiritual, reflecting his upbringing and visits to the Holy Land
Henry Ossawa Tanner was an African American painter who achieved international acclaim for his religious paintings. His artworks were deeply spiritual, reflecting his upbringing as a minister's son and his visits to the Holy Land.
Tanner's father, Benjamin Tucker Tanner, was a college-educated teacher and minister who later became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His mother, Sarah Miller Tanner, was a former slave who helped organize one of the first missionary groups for black women. Tanner's middle name, "Ossawa", is derived from the Kansas town of Osawatomie, where abolitionist John Brown began his career. Growing up in a religious household, with a father who was a bishop, and a mother who was involved in missionary work, it is likely that his religious upbringing influenced his artistic career.
Tanner's early artistic interests were developed in Philadelphia, where he spent much of his childhood. At the age of thirteen, he decided to become an artist after witnessing a painter at work during a walk in Fairmount Park. He began his art career in 1876, painting harbour scenes, landscapes, and animals from the Philadelphia Zoo. In 1880, he enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where he studied under Thomas Eakins. After a brief stint in Atlanta, where he opened an unsuccessful photography studio, Tanner secured a teaching position at Clark University.
In 1891, Tanner moved to Paris, France, where he studied at the Académie Julian. He found a culture that seemed more progressive in its race relations compared to America. Free from the racial prejudices of his native country, Tanner made Paris his permanent home. He gained acclaim in French artistic circles and received honours such as the Legion of Honour in 1923.
Tanner's religious paintings were influenced by his visits to the Holy Land in 1897-98. One of his most famous works, "Nicodemus Visiting Jesus" (c. 1898), was inspired by these travels and won the PAFA's Lippincott Prize in 1900. The painting depicts the biblical figure Nicodemus's meeting with Jesus Christ. Tanner's artworks were known for their deep spirituality, often employing meticulous attention to detail and expressive brushstrokes. His paintings reflected a maturity of style, moving away from grand religious scenes to focus on particular elements of biblical stories.
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He was the first African-American painter to gain international acclaim
Henry Ossawa Tanner was the first African-American painter to gain international acclaim. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1859, Tanner was the son of a minister and a schoolteacher. Tanner's father, Benjamin Tucker Tanner, was a college-educated teacher and minister who later became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent black denomination in the United States. His mother, Sarah Miller Tanner, was a former slave who had escaped the South through the Underground Railroad.
Tanner's early life was marked by frequent moves as his father was assigned to various churches and schools. In 1864, the family settled in Philadelphia, where Tanner's early artistic interests were developed. At the age of thirteen, he decided to become a painter after witnessing an artist painting outdoors during a walk in Fairmount Park with his father. Despite his father's initial objections, Tanner pursued his passion for the arts, painting and drawing throughout his teenage years.
In 1879 or 1880, Tanner enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, becoming the only Black student out of two hundred. There, he studied under Thomas Eakins, an influential teacher who profoundly impacted his life and work. However, Tanner left the academy early and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he taught art and ran his own gallery for two years.
In 1891, Tanner's life took a significant turn when he visited Europe, intending to study in Rome. He arrived in Paris, France, and decided to stay, enrolling at the Académie Julian. Paris offered a culture that seemed more progressive in race relations than America, and Tanner made it his permanent home. He found that his race mattered less in France, and he was free from the prejudicial confines that defined his life in his native country.
Tanner's early works included tender scenes of African American life, such as "The Banjo Lesson," created during a visit to Philadelphia in 1893. By the mid-1890s, he had achieved critical acclaim in the United States and Europe. In 1897, his painting "The Resurrection of Lazarus," a religious work, received high critical praise and a gold medal in the Salon of 1897. This milestone in his career solidified the direction of his artistic path. Tanner's religious paintings, influenced by his spiritual upbringing and visits to the Holy Land, brought him international recognition.
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Frequently asked questions
Tanner's religious paintings were inspired by his upbringing as a minister's son, his visits to the Holy Land, and his interest in the effects of colour in a painting.
Tanner's father was a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and his mother, a former slave, helped to organise one of the first missionary groups for black women. This religious upbringing influenced Tanner's decision to paint religious subjects.
No, Tanner fell in love with art at the age of 13 when he witnessed a painter at work during a walk in the park. Tanner decided to pursue a career in art despite his father's initial objections.
Tanner is best known for his religious paintings, including "The Resurrection of Lazarus", "The Annunciation", "The Raising of Lazarus", "The Thankful Poor", and "Nicodemus Visiting Jesus".
