Henry Ossawa Tanner, Christ and His Mother Studying the Scriptures, c. 1909, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, Deaccession Funds

Henry Ossawa Tanner, Christ and His Mother Studying the Scriptures, c. 1909, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, Deaccession Funds

1 Response to “Henry Ossawa Tanner, Christ and His Mother Studying the Scriptures, c. 1909, oil on canvas, Dallas Museum of Art, Deaccession Funds”


  1. 1 Bryan Page April 15, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    I visited the Dallas Museum of Art today with a friend. It was both of our first times to visit. I loved the openness, the flow, and the overall diversity of the displayed collection. This painting, however, struck me with a sense of hope and serenity that all to often is unobtainable through visual art. I was captivated by the innocence, the ritual, and by the love that was on display in this seemingly mundane moment. The depiction of Mary was the most memorable, the color of her dress and headdress, and the intense look on her face, which I took as a deep love for scripture. Juxtapose this with the look on Christ’s face, one of pure knowledge and childlike discovery simultaneously. The use of light that illuminates Christ is quite symbolic, as his life on earth is still in a state of rising, not yet clouded by his impending passion. This is a marvelous piece, and when I return, I plan to bring my entire family, and we will view and discuss this lovely work of art.


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