Docent’s Corner | Robert Henri; teacher, leader of the “Eight”, rebellious artist!
Image credit: Robert Henri (American, 1865-1929). Portrait of Stella, 1907 Oil on canvas. Alexander Collection, 2020.01.01
“Stella” painted by Robert Henri in 1907 and although it was not exhibited in the famous exhibit of 1908 called the “Eight” at the Macbeth Gallery in New York, is known as one of Henri’s finest portraits and a highlight of the Alexander Collection. In 1907 Henri was approaching 42 years of age, and at the height of his career as an artist, not to mention his successes as an inspirational teacher and leader to many students.
Robert Henri (1865-1926) was not always called by that name. His birth name was Robert Henry Cozad. Some mystery surrounds his early beginnings with his parents before moving from Nebraska; it seems that some dispute over water rights or a landholding enraged Robert’s father to fatally shot the man. So in the middle of the night an 8 year old Robert was on the move with his brother and his parents who immediately changed all their last names.
From New York to Atlantic City, and in 1886, now 21 years old, Robert was enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of art. Robert made two trips to Paris as a young man; first trip in 1888 to study French Impressionism, and 3 years later (after some teaching years in Pennsylvania) during the 1890’s, which brought about a change in his style to a darker palette. His early influences were Goya, Velazquez, and Frans Hals.
Robert Henri’s contributions to American art really begin with his career as a teacher. In 1892 Henri taught at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (now Moore College of Art). In 1893 at Darby Creek, Pennsylvania and it was during a summer program, John Sloan, George Luks, Everett Shinn, and William Glackens attended (they were to form the core group for the Eight exhibition in 1908). They enrolled again when he taught at the Philadelphia Academy.
Henri was a charismatic teacher who truly inspired his students. While teaching in the New York School of Art, his popularity as a teacher overshadowed that of co-teacher, William Merritt Chase, who was unable to compete, so he resigned; leaving Henri to run the school. Among his students were George Bellows, Stuart Davis, Edward Hopper, and Rockwell Kent. From 1911-1918, Henri taught at the Ferrer Center School also in New York, where Man Ray was among his students.
Robert’s ideas on art were collected by former student Margery Ryerson in the book; “The Art Spirit”. He was identified by the Arts Council of New York, a few years before his death in 1926, as one of top three living artists in America. His legacy of teaching included the recognition of women artists. Henri believed that artists must be realist in America, stating that what we need, “is art that expresses the spirit of the people today…” That is what he encouraged his students to do, and that is what he did in his paintings.
This Docent’s Corner is brought to you by Cathy Futral