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Feel free to comment below. No expertise is needed, either in Scripture or in art— so please jump right in! A FRIENDLY FORUM

Thank you!

Would not have known about Tanner, except for your series.

Good Morning Dan, and hello to all!

Tanner has a beautiful style, and he’s a good choice for today. Yesterday we talked about ‘methods of painting’ and in your description above, Tanner’s manner of his two styles are mentioned.

Greatly enjoy visiting your Gallery Dan, thank you.

Would not have known about Tanner, except for your series.

Nor would I, inasmuch as I am an art ignoramus.

To my untrained eye, he has a style I find interesting, which I would call "soft smokiness."

Greatly enjoy visiting your Gallery

Greatly enjoy your Gallery visits, Leon.

I very much like Tanner’s work. Perhaps it is because I am near-sighted, many of his scenes remind me of how I see things as I am in motion, or they are in motion around me - without a razor-sharp focus. His rendition of the flight to Egypt or Moses first seeing the burning bush remind me of that…there is a mystery to what is happening in the moment, it’s not sharp and in focus and it leads you to think “what did I just see?”

And yeah, being near-sighted is a bit like that at times!

His paintings are pretty beautiful.

Interesting take, Scott! I get it, now that you mention it.

Yes, I think he valued beauty in his paintings. He aspired to it.

There is a certain responsibility which is inherent for an artist portraying Scripture. Reacting to that by aspiring to beauty is a laudable approach.

The Annunciation is interesting. I’ve saved it. Thanks Dan

Angels have the innate ability to assume any physical form. Only Gabriel and Mary can say what he looked like on that occasion, and to me Tanner’s whimsy is as good as any, and better than most.

No. 9 is not a common subject - but how perfect! Of course Christ's Mother was his teacher!

Have always loved this artist . . . amazing vision and technical skill . . . came into his Biblical paintings from his wonderful, gritty, detailed genre paintings of rural African-American life, and his amazing portrait of Booker T. Washington.

The Banjo Lesson

Booker T. Washington

You’ve expressed your admiration of Tanner previously, so you were the one viewer I was hoping would notice and comment.

I agree. And thanks to Tanner for expanding our thinking on the Annunciation. Of *course* the great Archangel could appear in any form he thought fit! and on such a mighty errand, perhaps only that light straight from the heart of Heaven could even begin to emphasize its importance!

I'm so glad that you added him to your portfolio! He's by no means as well known as he ought to be.

He and Washington were two birds of a feather -- trying to navigate the difficult and complicated issues of race in America in their time -- and standing ultimately upon their own merits, without self-pity. Brave men both!

trying to navigate the difficult and complicated issues of race in America in their time

Although Tanner's ultimate solution involved navigating to Europe.

He was in the Paris art scene (the place to be at the time). But he traveled regularly to the U.S. to speak and teach. So he may have moved his base to Paris, but he was still very involved at home. His father was an A.M.E. bishop (that was - and really still is - a very upper-crust denomination) and he had some significant patrons.

His popularity waned after WWI - really everything in Europe was unsettled between the wars - but he was still very well thought of.

Thanks for that extra information.

I love this.

Thank you for sharing and introducing me to a brilliant artist.