List of paintings by Henry Ossawa Tanner

This is an incomplete list of paintings by American painter Henry Ossawa Tanner (June 21, 1859 – May 25, 1937). Tanner is the first Black artist to have a major solo exhibition in the United States,Artist: Henry Ossawa Tanner. Smithsonian American Art Museum. https://americanart.si.edu/artist/henry-ossawa-tanner-4742 and the first to have his work acquired for the collection of the White House.Block, Fang. Bonhams to Offer Henry Ossawa Tanner's ‘Return from the Cross.’ Barrons. May 18, 2021. https://www.barrons.com/articles/bonhams-to-offer-henry-ossawa-tanners-return-from-the-cross-01621372938

Works DateTanner's approximate age Events of Tanner's life Description Artwork name Details Picture1870 11 years oldDrawing was part of Tanner's childhood in elementary school. However, he did not consider himself gifted. Barnyard FowlAttributed to Tanner online. In doubt, considering Tanner decided to paint in 1872.1875-1876 16–17 years oldIn 1872 he saw a painter painting a landscape in a park and was inspired to paint. Tanner saw paintings at Earle's Galleries in Philadelphia. He spent summers in Atlantic City.In 1872 (age 13) he decides to become a marine painter. "Tanner's first known painting" was Harbor Scene. This painting completed with no art education.Harbor ScenePrivate collection. Oil on canvas board glued to Masonite. 14 x 20" (35.56 x 50.8 cm)undatedTanner sketches a shipwreck, impresses artist Henry Price, who takes him in to teach him for about a year.This impressionist painting is not that sketch but came later.The WreckSmithsonian American Art Museum, 1983.95.205. Oil on panel, 9 1/4 x 12 1/8 in. (23.5 x 30.8 cm.)circa 1876-1879 about 17–20 years oldAttending Philadelphia Academy, beginning 1879, and through 1885 (not continuously but periodically)SeascapeImpressionism, family collection of Rae Alexander-Mintner1876-1879 17–20 years oldSeascape JettyPrivate collection. Oil on canvas. 12 x 17" (30.48 x 43.18 cm)1879 20 years oldTanner exposed to paintings at Earle's Galleries in Philadelphia. Spends summers in Atlantic City.An early painting, done while learning, "probably derived from another artist's work".Ship in a StormPrivate collection. Oil on academy board 10'/16 x 6"(25.56 x 15.24 cm)1879 20 years oldPainting likely made before he entered the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.FaunaHampton University Museum. Oil on canvas. 38 3/8″ x 29 3/4″21 years oldAfter the StormFormerly in the Evans-Tibbs Collection.1880 21 years olduntitledTelfair Museums, 1998.29. Oil on canvas, 15 1/8 × 25 3/16 inches (38.4 × 64 cm)21 years oldStudent work made while Tanner was attending the Philadelphia Academy. The second photo is of the same lion, done at a later date.Pomp at the zooPrivate collection. Oil on canvas, 20 x 16 in.21–22 years oldIn a biographical article, Tanner wrote of his experience of owning and painting a sheep while at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.Study of a sheep's head. Tanner switched his interest from marine painting to painting animals. Head of a SheepPrivate collection. Oil on canvas, on board, 10 1/2x10 in. (267x254 mm)1881 22 years oldIn the 1880-1881 period, Tanner lived in Philadelphia with his parents, as he tried to start life as a painter.Boy and Sheep Under a TreePrivate collection. Oil on canvas, 17 3/8 x 27 in.undatedFeeding Sheep1881-1882 22–23 years oldPortrait of a girl; "My Sister Sara" is written on lower right. Tanner had a sister Sarah Elizabeth Tanner who was 9 years old in 1882.Sister Sara Done while Tanner was at the Philadelphia Academy.Private collection. Oil on canvas, 16 x 13 in.23 years oldTanner can be identified by his signature in these works.Historical painting for magazine, not used. Three other paintings illustrated the article, called The Witch Hunt, by Louise Stockton, in Our Continent magazine, August 30, 1882, pages 233–235.The Witch Hunt 1882 23 years oldTanner can be identified by his signature in these works.Historical painting for magazine, illustrating the article, called The Witch Hunt, by Louise Stockton, in Our Continent magazine, August 30, 1882, pages 233–235.Waiting for the LordHistorical Society of Pennsylvania. Gouache on board, 13'/2 X 12”.23 years oldTanner can be identified by his signature in these works.Historical painting for magazine, illustrating the article, called The Witch Hunt, by Louise Stockton, in Our Continent magazine, August 30, 1882, pages 233–235.Gathering Faggots and At the Well 1884Painting of elk attacked by wolves; has been pointed out as symbolizing racist attacks on him while studying at the Philadelphia Academy of Art.Battle of LifeLost26 years oldShepherdess herding sheepuntitledPrivate collection. Oil on panel, 13 x 9 1/2 in.26 years oldLandscape done near the end of his time studying at the Philadelphia Academy. Installed at the Green Room, White House.Sand Dunes at Sunset, Atlantic City or Back from the BeachWhite House Historical Association, 995.1759.1. Oil on canvas, 30 3/16 x 59 7/16 in.1885-1886 26–27 years oldTanner spent time studying the nude form at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Painting was a study for a planned painting of a mythological scene of Androcles with a lion.Study for AndroclesPrivate collection. Oil on canvas, 31' x 18"1886 27 years oldTanner had been painting lions since at least 1880. He abandoned his project for Androcles and the lion as beyond his current abilities, but continued painting lions in works such as this.Lion Licking Its Paw or After DinnerAllentown Art Museum, 1962.5. Oil on canvas, 30 x 36" (76.2 x 91.44 cm)1888 29 years oldTanner grew up in Pennsylvania near the house of Nicolas Wynkoop, who built it in 1739. That house would later be owned by "abolitionist" Judge Henry Wynkoop, who freed his slaves. Some of Judge Henry Wynkoop's slaves chose to remain with his family after receiving freedom on his death; a tree became their cemetery marker.Picture of a different Wynkoop house in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City dated with signature 1888. Tanner may have painted this as a symbol with civil rights in mind.Wynkoop House, Old HaarlemNew Britain Museum of American Art, 1984.86. Oil on canvas, 18 1/2 x 13 1/4 in. American realism29 years olduntitled landscape (Female figure with basket and trail leading to houses)Hearne Fine Art. Oil on canvas, framed size: 21" x 17"1887-1888 28–29 years oldTanner made illustrations for Harper's Young People.He illustrated for Kate Upson Clark, her story "Old Win-ne-wan's Star" in Harper's Young People, printed as wood engraving January 10, 1888.It Must Be My Very Star, Come Down to Brooklyn, After All1882-1888While still living in Philadelphia, Tanner did a religious artwork. This was years before The Thankful Poor and Daniel in the Lion's Den (1896). His teacher may have been sending students' work in to magazines.Joachim, father of Mary, maternal grandfather of JesusJoachim Leaving the TempleThe Baltimore Museum of Art, 2008.111. Opaque watercolor and graphite, inscribed with a stylus, on paper, 558 × 392 mm. (21 15/16 × 15 7/16 in.)30 years oldTanner visits Highlands, North Carolina, with the idea that he could make money with his camera and pay for the trip.Painting likely of the Cumberland Mountains.Mountain Landscape, Highlands North CarolinaDoris Ulman Galleries, Berea College Art Department, Kentucky, 140.O.95. Oil on canvas. 23" x 36"30 years oldvisits Highlands, NCMountain Landscape, Highlands, North CarolinaSmithsonian American Art Museum. Watercolor, pencil, and colored pencil on paper mounted on paperboard, 10 7/8 x 15 in. (27.5 x 38.1 cm)30 years oldvisits Highlands, N.C.Highlands, N.C.Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1983.95.26. Watercolor and pencil on paper, 10 7/8 x 15 in.1889 30 years oldvisits Highlands, NCWaterfall, North CarolinaThe Charleston Renaissance Gallery. Oil on canvas 21 5/8 x 14 inches1889 30 years oldSimilarity: Tanner painted a work titled "Scrub Pine Land", exhibited in 1894 and unknown today, painted in Florida.untitled landscapeRobert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, Oil on canvas, 33 1/2 x 27 1/4 in.undated, 30–31 years oldGeorgia LandscapeMorris Museum of Art, Augusta, Georgia. Oil on canvas, 17 3/4 x 32 1/4 in.undatedPainting signature has "Henry" spelled out, which is unusual. African American figures?untitledPrivate collection. Oil on canvas, 9 x 13 in.1891 32 years oldBeginning January 1891, attending school at the Academie Julian in ParisPainted in France while attending school. The figure between the two dogs in the background is a pentimento of a gypsy boy, a street performer. Tanner painted the petit savoyard (young Gypsy street performer) into the picture, but later removed it, creating the shadowy image.A Horse and Two Dogs in a LandscapeWoodrow Wilson Middle School Collection, Philadelphia. American realism or French academic1891 32 years oldBeginning January 1891, attending school at the Academie Julian in ParisPainted in France while attending school. Appears to be imitating the painting Anguish by August Friedrich Schenck. Tanner's painting is retitled, and painted in a more impressionist style.Behold! The Lamb of GodPrivate collection. Oil on canvas, 13.12 x 18.12 in. (33.3 x 46 cm.)undatedAttended Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art about 1879–1885. Struggled to make living as artist. Beginning January 1891, attended school at the Academie Julian in ParisPlace and time painted unknown. Clearly imitating Briton Riviere's Daniel's Answer to the Kinguntitled. Online labeled Daniel in the Lion's DenPrivate collection. Oil on canvas, 29 1/2 x 43 in.1891 32 years oldFirst year in France. Summering on west coast of Brittany.Portrait of a woman apparently from the French West Indies. Her dress marks her as not being of the peasant class. This image is a rare Tanner portrait, one of about 7 known images he painted of a colored person. Impressionist techniques being used in this image.Woman from the West Indies, 1891, Brittany, France.ImpressionismTanner arrived in France in January 1891. Night scene of a couple standing in the rain in Paris.Street Scene, ParisColby College Museum of Art, 1972.052. Waterville, Maine. Pastel on paper, 13 × 9 3/4 in. (33 × 24.8 cm.)1891 32 years oldTanner arrived in France in January 1891. Summered in Brittany at Pont-Aven and Concarneau. Bois d'Amour is near Pont-Aven. Concarneau is about 15 km from Pont-Aven.Woman and child walking on a path in the woods.Bois d'AmourundatedTanner had the opportunity to paint this at any time after 1890.Painting came up for auction in 2023 in Bordeaux, France.Brittany, mother and her child on the road Bretagne, mère et son enfant sur la route Private collection. 35 x 55.5 cm1891 32 years oldSummers in Brittany, spends time at ConcarneauConcarneau32–34 years oldTanner studied at the Académie Julian from 1891 to 1893.Study at the Académie Julian, where instruction centered around making images of nude models.Half-Length Study of a Negro ManDetroit Institute of Arts. Charcoal and pastel on cream laid paper, 19 1/2 x 9 3/8 in. (24.6 x 23.9 cm).Assuming this is part of his artist's studies in the Académie Julian, it would date from his arrival in 1891 until he left in 1893Portrait of a Young GirlSmithsonian American Art Museum, 1983.95.46. Conte crayon, pencil and pastel on paper, 8 7⁄8 x 6 1⁄4 in. (22.5 x 16.0 cm)undated possibly Assuming this is part of his artist's studies in the Académie Julian, it would date from his arrival in 1891 until he left in 1893. Painting in French art gallery ProanticEtude d'Un Homme Barbu or Study Of A Bearded ManPrivate collection. Charcoal on paper, 25.5 x 20 cm.1892