Mary

Henry Ossawa Tanner, Mary, ca. 1914, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Dorothy L. McGuire, 1991.102
Copied Henry Ossawa Tanner, Mary, ca. 1914, oil on canvas, 45 1⁄2 x 34 3⁄4 in. (115.5 x 88.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Dorothy L. McGuire, 1991.102
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Mary
Artist
Date
ca. 1914
Location
Dimensions
45 1⁄2 x 34 3⁄4 in. (115.5 x 88.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Dorothy L. McGuire
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Religion — New Testament — Mary
Object Number
1991.102
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1991.102

Artwork Description

Henry Ossawa Tanner saw Mary, mother of Jesus, as a symbol of faith and fortitude. He painted many images of her and created this particular work during a difficult and trying time in his life. In 1914, the year his mother died, the outbreak of World War I forced his family to flee France for England. In this scene, Mary awaits the arrival of the angel who will tell her that she bears the Son of God. The glowing lamp, a symbol of God’s presence, adds mystery and suspense to the painting.