Henry Ossawa Tanner: American Artist (Negro American Biographies & Autobiographies (Paperback))

About this book

Mathewss standard biography of Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) based on extensive research in archives in this country and family records in France. An important artist in the salons of Paris Tanner was born and studied in Philadelphia but left America for Europe where his race would not stand in the way of his ambition. Providing a full account of the artists life and art Henry Ossawa Tanner gives readers insight into the art trends of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as well as into the struggle of African Americans of this period. "Tanner ranks not only as the first truly distinguished Negro American artist but as one of Americas first outstanding successes in the salons of Europe. In this work Mathews has significantly added to our knowledge of the history of American art."John Hope Franklin from the Foreword "The book gives the main facts of Tanners life and successfully places his artistic work in its historic context....It is a welcome and useful volume."August Meier Journal of American History