Henry Ossawa Tanner is an African-American painter that researched under Thomas Eakins.
He was the kid of Benjamin Tucker, priest of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as Sarah Miller Tanner, an instructor. Tanner was the oldest of nine children. In 1864 he followed his household to Philly where he started his enthusiasm for the arts. In 1879-1885, he entered the Pennsylvania Academy of Art as well as educators were Thomas Eakins. He opened his very own paint workshop in 1886 in Philadelphia. After a job in Atlanta, he educated drawing at Clark College. He traveled to France in 1891 where he went to John Paul Laurens at the Julian Academy and joined the American Art Trainees Club of Paris.
Our collection contains 9 quotes who is written / told by Henry.
"The physical characteristics of the child Jesus will always remain a point of discussion. No artist has ever produced a type, nor ever will, that has in it all that the varying minds of all time will acknowledge as complete"
"Many of the artists who have represented Negro life have seen only the comic, ludicrous side of it, and have lacked sympathy with and appreciation for the warm big heart that dwells within such a rough exterior"
"I will preach with my brush"
"My effort has been not only to put the Biblical incident in the original setting... but at the same time give the human touch to convey to my public the reverence and elevation these subjects impart to me"
"I decided on the spot that I would be an artist, and I assure you, it was no ordinary artist I had in mind"
"I believe the Negro blood counts, and counts to my advantage - though it has caused me at times a life of great humiliation and sorrow"
"Get it - get it better or get it worse. No middle ground of compromise"
"It seemed to me that this might be a great pageant, which would give a chance for a very interesting picture"
"My efforts have been to not only put the Biblical incident in the original setting, but at the same time give the human touch which makes the whole world kin and which ever remains the same"
