“I will preach with my brush.” - Henry Ossawa Tanner “Tanner was born in 1859 and was the first black student to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Pittsburg. The artist moved to Atlanta but, disheartened by American racism, settled permanently in France in 1894. His painting technique is a blend of styles he encountered while working in Europe, including impressionism.” He has a wonderful tie to Iowa, several of his paintings are featured in the permanent collection of the Des Moines Art Center. Henry Ossawa Tanner was an American painter who frequently depicted biblical scenes and is best known for the paintings “Nicodemus Visiting Jesus,” “The Banjo Lesson” and “The Thankful Poor.” He was the first African-American painter to gain international fame. Henry Ossawa Tanner was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1859. As a young man, he studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In 1891, Tanner moved to Paris, and after several exhibits, gained international 9
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