Angels Appearing before the Shepherds (ca. 1910)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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"Angels Appearing before the Shepherds" is a captivating painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner, created around 1910. Tanner, known for his profound religious scenes, presents an ethereal and dynamic interpretation of the biblical story where angels announce the birth of Christ to the shepherds.In this compelling work, Tanner uses his mastery of light and shadow to dramatic effect. The painting is dominated by a moody, nocturnal landscape, through which the divine revelation pierces with a supernatural glow. The angels, depicted as elongated, almost ghostly figures, emerge powerfully against the dusky skies, their forms barely delineated by the luminous brush strokes.Below, the shepherds are seen in a small, intimate grouping, their astonishment and reverence palpable even through Tanner's impressionistic style. Their humble, earthly presence contrasts starkly with the celestial visitation, highlighting the miraculous nature of the event.Tanner's palette of deep blues and muted earth tones further enhances the mystical atmosphere of the scene, inviting viewers to feel the weight of the momentous message being received by the shepherds.
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Henry Ossawa Tanner (June 21, 1859 – May 25, 1937) was an American artist who spent much of his career in France. He became the first African-American painter to gain international acclaim. Tanner moved to Paris, France, in 1891 to study at the Académie Julian and gained acclaim in French artistic circles. His painting Daniel in the Lions' Den (1895, location unknown) was accepted into the 1896 Salon, the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Tanner's Resurrection of Lazarus (1896, Musée d'Orsay, Paris) was purchased by the French government after winning the third-place medal at the 1897 Salon. In 1923, the French government elected Tanner chevalier of the Legion of Honor.