Regarded as one of the most significant African-American painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Henry Ossawa Tanner was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received his initial training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts under Thomas Eakins. Success eluded him in the United States, but a move to Paris, France, saw a revival of his fortunes and career. He gained acceptance to the prestigious Paris Salon numerous times and had a work purchased by the French Government for placement in the Luxembourg Museum. In 1927, he became the first black artist to be elected a member of the National Academy.

Tanner’s father was a Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and this was influential in his choice of Biblical subjects. He visited the Holy Land several times where he was inspired to paint Entrance to the Kasbah in 1912. Recalling its creation Tanner said, “I was wandering around Tangos rather undecided about the quality of rather paintable material. I was watching this doorway, the entrance to the Kasbah when the Moor in the doorway suddenly appeared. No more indecision; I went to work at once.”

Purchased by the Lafayette Art Association

1914.02