Artwork Page for Tannhäuser

Details / Information for Tannhäuser

Tannhäuser

1886

Henri Fantin-Latour

(French, 1836–1904)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 123.5 x 139.5 x 14 cm (48 5/8 x 54 15/16 x 5 1/2 in.); Unframed: 86.4 x 103.3 cm (34 x 40 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade 1916.1038
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

As he will eventually return to reality, Tannhäuser, the singer in the lower left, is painted in dark tones. In contrast, his vision into another realm is evoked by the soft muted hues of Venus and her court.

Description

Tannhäuser, the male figure seated on the left, does not seem fully engaged in this merry scene. Among pale bodies and pastel hues, he alone is cast in shadow. The Wagner opera that inspired the painting centers on a struggle between profane and sacred love, and the tension between them appears embodied in the brooding Tannhäuser.
A horizontally oriented oil painting depicts five people with light skin tones in a wooded landscape. On our left, Tannhäuser sits in dark clothing. In the foreground, one woman reclines while another sits behind her playing a flute. On our right, two women dance; one in a blue dress holds a tambourine aloft, while the other holds a dark veil. Muted greens and browns define the trees in the background.

Tannhäuser

1886

Henri Fantin-Latour

(French, 1836–1904)
France, 19th century

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