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May 23, 2014 16 Comments

Charlotte Mason Picture Study: Henry Ossawa Tanner

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Charlotte Mason Henry Ossawa Tanner

On Monday, I wrote a post about Charlotte Mason’s picture study technique for homeschool art appreciation. Today, I thought I would further the resources on this topic and do some of the art finding and selecting for you. I plan on creating several posts with several suggestions of artists and artworks for this activity. First, I decided I would start with a year of American Art–6 artists with 6 artworks each. Then as I was preparing it all, I realized the post would be way too massive! So, we will do one artist at a time. The first is African-American artist Henry Ossawa Tanner.

The following links will help you discuss these works with your children. These works are specifically chosen for the Charlotte Mason Picture Study technique described in the first link.

  • Charlotte Mason’s Picture Study: An Easy Way to Introduce Art to Your Kids
  • How to Look at Art with Children
  • Free Art Appreciation Printable Worksheet Bundle

Free Worksheets

8 Free Art Appreciation Worksheets

includes the Elements & Principles!

Download 8 Free Art Appreciation Worksheets – including 2 Elements and Principles pages! Activities designed to work with almost any work of art. Help your students connect with art while having fun!

Download

Free Worksheets

8 Free Art Appreciation Worksheets

includes the Elements & Principles!

Download 8 Free Art Appreciation Worksheets – including 2 Elements and Principles pages! Activities designed to work with almost any work of art. Help your students connect with art while having fun!

Artist: Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)

Frederick Gutekunst, Portrait of Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1907
Frederick Gutekunst, Portrait of Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1907

“One of the first African-American artists to achieve a reputation in both America and Europe, Henry Ossawa Tanner worked in the Naturalist and genre traditions of American art. Though his work grew increasingly mainstream and allegorical, his early depictions of humble black folk about their daily lives are regarded as classic statements of African-American pride and dignity.” — PBS. Visit http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/icon/tanner.html for more biographical information.

Children’s Book: Henry Ossawa Tanner: His Boyhood Dream Comes True by Faith Ringgold


Works included in this Resource:

  1. Daniel in the Lions’ Den, 1907–18
  2. Spinning by Firelight – The Boyhood of George Washington Gray, 1894
  3. The Annunciation, 1898
  4. The Banjo Lesson, 1893
  5. The Thankful Poor, 1894
  6. The Three Marys, 1910
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Daniel in the Lions' Den, 1907–18
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, 1907–18
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Spinning by Firelight - The Boyhood of George Washington Gray, 1894
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Spinning by Firelight – The Boyhood of George Washington Gray, 1894
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Annunciation, 1898
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Annunciation, 1898
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Banjo Lesson, 1893, Two Muses Homeschool Art Picture Study
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Banjo Lesson, 1893
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Thankful Poor, 1894
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Thankful Poor, 1894
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Three Marys, 1910
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Three Marys, 1910

Which one is your favorite painting by this artist? Why? What artist would you like me to cover in future posts?

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Filed Under: Art and Artists, Art Connection Activities
Tagged With: henry ossawa tanner

 

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Reader Interactions

16 Comments

  1. karen byassee

    November 3, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    What you are doing is awesome! I especially like the Charlotte Mason studies. You are soooo generous! Thank you.

    Reply to this comment
    • artcuratorforkids@gmail.com

      November 3, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      Yay! Thank you, and you’re very welcome! I’m glad you like the Charlotte Mason posts. I eventually plan to have full year packs available to download with those. 🙂 I’m going to finish up American Art with a couple more posts, and then start on another theme.

      Reply to this comment
      • Sandra K. Fairchild

        November 17, 2021 at 9:21 am

        Thank you for the Henry Ossawa Tanner art study. I would like to have some 8 x 10 prints of six of his works to study with my student. I don’t know were to get them so they would be affordable. I have one student who is African American, and I think she would enjoy learning about Mr. Tanner’s life and work. I am helping her family homeschool her. Can you help?

        Reply to this comment
        • Amy Davis

          November 26, 2021 at 9:41 am

          I am not sure how much you would like to spend, but I did a quick google search “Henry Ossawa Tanner 8×10 prints” and several sources were available, including Walmart for a couple. We don’t have a specific source to point you towards. Good Luck!

          Reply to this comment
  2. June C

    January 30, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Thanks so much for all you do! – I want to use this next month – could you please send the powerpoint?

    Thx!

    June

    Reply to this comment
    • Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids

      January 30, 2015 at 10:32 am

      Of course! Sending right now. 🙂

      Reply to this comment
      • Erica

        June 15, 2025 at 8:15 pm

        May I have the powerpoint as well?

        Reply to this comment
        • Amy Davis

          June 19, 2025 at 9:38 pm

          Hello Erica! The PowerPoint is available on our Curated Connections Membership site. Please reach out at support@artclasscurator and I will send you more information on how to join and what’s included with the membership. Thanks!

          Reply to this comment
  3. Kathryn L.

    February 22, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    Just discovered your blog this morning via Pinterest. Your materials are fabulous! Can you please send me the powerpoint of Tanner? Thanks so much for your great work!

    Reply to this comment
    • Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids

      February 22, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      Thank you! I just sent you the PowerPoint via e-mail.

      Reply to this comment
  4. ingrid mccoy

    March 23, 2015 at 1:26 pm

    Hi, your site is great and the info is so well documented. Could you send me the powerpoint? Thanks!

    Reply to this comment
    • Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids

      March 23, 2015 at 5:52 pm

      Thank you! I just e-mailed it. 🙂

      Reply to this comment
    • Abigail

      January 16, 2021 at 9:34 am

      Thank you for your his post. What will be the appropriate age to start these lessons, my daughter is 4.

      Reply to this comment
      • Amy Davis

        January 20, 2021 at 12:20 pm

        You’re welcome, glad you enjoyed it! While you know your daughter best, the Charlotte Mason Picture Study is definitely appropriate for most 4 year olds.

        Reply to this comment
  5. NAuld

    April 14, 2016 at 8:27 am

    This is amazing!

    Thank you for sharing!

    In Japan

    Reply to this comment
    • Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids

      April 28, 2016 at 10:37 am

      Thank you!

      Reply to this comment

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