Mother of Henry O. Tanner

Henry Ossawa Tanner, Mother of Henry O. Tanner, n.d., oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Nicholas Zervas, 1983.95.213
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Mother of Henry O. Tanner, n.d., oil on plywood, 139 14 in. (33.023.5 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Nicholas Zervas, 1983.95.213
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Mother of Henry O. Tanner
Date
n.d.
Dimensions
139 14 in. (33.023.5 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Nicholas Zervas
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on plywood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait female — Tanner, — bust
Object Number
1983.95.213

Artwork Description

Henry Ossawa Tanner’s mother, Sarah Elizabeth Miller, was one of eleven children born to a slave who sent her children to freedom by the Underground Railroad. Members of the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society divided the children into various families, sending Sarah to Pittsburgh. In this portrait, Tanner captured the wisdom and experience of a woman who had endured much in her life, rising from slavery to raise well-educated and successful children. Tanner kept this portrait in his personal collection and spoke affectionately of it in letters to his family.

Works by this artist (17 items)

Frank Espada, No Parking (Williamsburg, Brooklyn), 1974, printed ca. 1995, inkjet print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2015.22.10, © 1974, Frank Espada Photography
No Parking (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Date1974, printed ca. 1995
inkjet print
Not on view
Frank Espada, Untitled (Two boys, East New York), 1964, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2015.22.8, © 1964, Frank Espada Photography
Untitled (Two boys, East New York)
Date1964
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Frank Espada, Untitled (Boy in front of condemned building, East New York), ca. 1960-1964, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2015.22.3, © Frank Espada Photography
Untitled (Boy in front of condemned building, East New York)
Dateca. 1960-1964
gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1975, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.168, © 1975, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1975, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view
David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1974, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.156, © 1974, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1974, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view
David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1974, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.154, © 1974, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1974, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view