Palace of Justice, Tangier

Henry Ossawa Tanner, Palace of Justice, Tangier, ca. 1912-1913, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Baxter, 1970.67
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Palace of Justice, Tangier, ca. 1912-1913, oil on canvas, 25 5831 78 in. (65.181.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Baxter, 1970.67
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Palace of Justice, Tangier
Date
ca. 1912-1913
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
25 5831 78 in. (65.181.0 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Baxter
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Cityscape — Morocco — Tangier
  • Moroccan
  • Architecture Exterior — civic — courthouse
  • Architecture Exterior — civic — Palace of Justice
  • Cityscape — street
  • Figure group
Object Number
1970.67

Artwork Description

Henry Ossawa Tanner traveled to Tangier in 1912, but it is unclear if he painted this scene there or in his Paris studio, using postcards of the city. The buildings in the background are the law courts, which once housed Morocco’s royal officials. The figures in the right side of the picture represent Mary and Joseph on the flight into Egypt, one of Tanner’s favorite Bible stories. His expressive brushwork and the blues and purples evoke not only an exotic, distant place, but the world of the spirit as well.

Works by this artist (162 items)

Chiura Obata, El Capitán, 1931, color woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Obata Family, 2000.76.24, © 1989, Lillian Yuri Kodani
El Capitán
Date1931
color woodcut on paper
Not on view
Chiura Obata, Untitled (Magnolia in a Blue Round Vase), ca.1930s, ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Estate of Chiura Obata, 2020.74
Untitled (Magnolia in a Blue Round Vase)
Dateca.1930s
ink on paper
Not on view
Chiura Obata, Landslide, 1941, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Estate of Chiura Obata, 2020.72.2
Landslide
Date1941
watercolor on paper
Not on view
Chiura Obata, Topaz, ca. 1942, pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Estate of Chiura Obata, 2020.72.5
Topaz
Dateca. 1942
pencil on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Claire Falkenstein, City is Man, 1941-1952, linocut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.14, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
City is Man
Date1941-1952
linocut
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Untitled, 1976, embossed paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.18, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Untitled
Date1976
embossed paper
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Mandala, 1977, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.19, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Mandala
Date1977
lithograph
Not on view
Nathan Oliveira, Site with Blue and White, 1978, monotype, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Moses Lasky, 2004.32.14
Site with Blue and White
Date1978
monotype
Not on view