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Henry Ossawa Tanner

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) was a black American painter He earned a formidable reputation at a time when it was rare for a black American to pursue a career as a professional artist Henry O Tanner was born in Pittsburgh, Pa, on June 21, 1859 His father, a clergyman, writer, and educator, moved the family to Philadelphia in 1866 After Henry graduated from high school, he secured a job in a flour mill; the work was strenuous, and he soon became seriously ill With his recovery, Bishop Tanner consented to let him study art In 1880 Tanner began his studies at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, where his principal teachers were Thomas Eakins and William Merritt Chase By 1882 Tanner was painting on his own, occasionally selling a painting or a drawing.

In 1888 he set up a photography studio in Atlanta, Ga The venture failed, but he secured a teaching position at Clark University in Atlanta At Clark, Tanner met Bishop Joseph L Hartzell The bishop, impressed with Tanner's artistic ability, arranged an exhibition in Cincinnati Not one piece was sold, but the bishop bought them all to help the young artist - morally and financially With this money Tanner left for Europe to work in an atmosphere free of the virulent racism that permeated American life After 5 years of study at the Académie Julian in Paris, Tanner showed the painting The Young Sabot-makerat the prestigious Salon des Artistes Français He participated continually in Salon exhibitions until 1924 In 1897 he became internationally known when the French government purchased the Resurrection of Lazarus.

The young woman who posed for the figure of Mary in the Annunciation (1898) became Tanner's wife in 1899 They returned to the United States in 1902 After their only child was born in New York City the next year, Tanner moved his family to Paris Except for occasional visits to America, he remained abroad for the rest of his life The years brought numerous awards and honors, the most significant being Tanner's election in 1923 by the French government as a chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur Later, America honored him with full membership in its National Academy of Art and Design He was the first black American to achieve this distinction After his death in Paris on May 25, 1937, interest in Tanner's works diminished considerably The most renowned of all black artists was rediscovered, largely as a result of a major exhibit in New York, in 1967 Two years later the Smithsonian Institution presented a large retrospective that circulated extensively throughout the United States.

Tanner was an excellent draftsman Often compared to Eakins, he can be more accurately compared to Albert P Ryder and Ralph Blakelock Yet his work also relates to Rembrandt in terms of technique and composition, as clearly illustrated in Tanner's Daniel in the Lion's Den Dramatic lighting made Tanner's paintings between 1890 and 1905 prime examples of modern chiaroscuro His skillful use of glazing was a unique element of his style Although his Banjo Lesson (1893) is considered a classic work of an ethnic subject, Tanner usually found his inspiration in landscapes and biblical themes.

Conversation: Henry Ossawa Tanner

For more on this story, visit Art Beat: http://to.pbs.org/HlXspI Henry Ossawa Tanner is known as the first African-American artist to gain international succ...

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Henry O. Tanner Exhibit At PAFA

Preview for Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, celebrated by many guests and Mayor Nutter.

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Painting Techniques of Henry Ossawa Tanner - Smithsonian American Art Museum

Conservators Amber Kerr-Allison and Brian Baade present findings of their recent study and analysis of six of Tanner's works in the permanent collection, inc...

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Henry Ossawa Tanner

Henry Ossawa Tanner (June 21, 1859 - May 25, 1937) was an African American artist. He was the first African American painter to gain international acclaim.

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Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Disciples See Christ Walking on the Water

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Henry Ossawa Tanner

This is the story of Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) the first African American painter to achieve fame in both Europe and America. An inspiration for the Ha...

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Peintures de Henry Ossawa Tanner - Machaut : Motêt n° 23 -

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859 - 1937) peintre afro-américain, élève de Thomas Eakins. L'un des premiers peintres Africain-Américain à acquérir une renommée inter...

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Swann Galleries African-American Fine Art Auction Part 1

Nigel Freeman Discusses Highlights of Swann Galleries' February 19 Auction of African-American Fine Art. The sale offers 250 paintings, drawings, collages, p...

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Bust of Bishop Tanner (Reverend Tyler).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo Courtesy of The Walters Art Museum.

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Richie Havens - God Bless The Child [live] & Henry Ossawa Tanners The Banjo Lesson

Richie Havens sings and plays every song he writes or covers to perfection and will remain a treasure and musical friend for always. Henry Ossawa Tanner has ...

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Swann Galleries African-American Fine Art Auction Part 2

Nigel Freeman Discusses Highlights of Swann Galleries' February 19 Auction of African-American Fine Art. The sale offers 250 paintings, drawings, collages, p...

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The Arch (Tanners Own Words).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum.

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The Holy Family (Tanners Own Words).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo courtesy of the Muskegon Museum of Art.

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The Resurrection of Lazarus (Tanners Own Words).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo courtesy of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.

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The Annunciation (Hélène Valance).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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Bust of Bishop Tanner (Lewis Tanner Moore).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Audio Tour. Photo courtesy of the Walters Art Museum.

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The Annunciation (Pattie McCarthy).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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I Believe the Gospel is a Love Story - Silent Night, Holy Night was the Birth of Christ

View the Gospel http://www.viewthestory.com WIN JESUS STUFF! http://www.jesuspictured.com Thank you for watching. Be sure to subscribe to the channel as more...

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The Arch (Lewis Tanner Moore).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum.

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Christ Learning to Read (Lewis Tanner Moore).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo Courtesy of the Des Moines Art Center.

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Salome (Lewis Tanner Moore).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

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Nicodemus (Reverend Tyler).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA).

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Fishermens Return (Amber Kerr-Allison).wmv

Part of the Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit Audio Tour. Photo courtesy of The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Foundation for the Arts.

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PAFA After Dark: Turned On - Gallery Talk (3/8/2012)

As part of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts' After Dark event on 3/8/2012, a trio of 'Gallery Talks' were given on various topics relating to the Henry ...

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