Henry O. Tanner
Grafly and Tanner (1859-1937) were friends from their student years, first in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and later in Paris at the Académie Julian. Grafly, who became Philadelphia's most influential academically trained sculptor, modeled this bust during his second trip to Paris in 1896. The painted plaster, the first in his series of portraits of fellow artists, features hallmarks of the Beaux-Arts style: loose and vital surface treatment coupled with a highly naturalistic likeness. The portrait was a gift of friendship to Tanner, who enjoyed a successful career as an expatriate painter of religious scenes. Tanner displayed the bust in his Paris studio, and his son Jesse subsequently presented it to the Metropolitan.
Artwork Details
- Title: Henry O. Tanner
- Artist: Charles Grafly (American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1862–1929 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Date: 1896
- Culture: American
- Medium: Painted plaster
- Dimensions: 28 x 12 x 9 3/4 in. (71.1 x 30.5 x 24.8 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of J. O. Tanner, 1949
- Object Number: 49.54
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.