Robin Tanner
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| Robin Tanner | |
| Born | 1904 |
| Died | 1988 |
| Nationality | English |
| Field | etcher and illustrator |
| Training | Goldsmith's College |
| Movement | neo-romanticism |
| Influenced by | Samuel Palmer, F.L. Griggs |
Robin Tanner (Wiltshire, 1904-1988) was an English artist, etcher and printmaker. He followed in the visionary tradition of Samuel Palmer and English neo-romanticism. He lived in London, at Kington Langley, in Wiltshire, and Bath.
His etchings began in the early 1920s, when he undertook night-school classes at Goldsmiths College in London. He had been inspired by the major Samuel Palmer exhibition in London, particularly Palmer's early period Shoreham works which had been so influential on fellow students such as Paul Drury, William Larkins and Graham Sutherland, and by an admiration for the technical craftsmanship of the older etcher, F.L. Griggs.
Tanner was thus part of the etching revival in England, but the market for etchings was largely destroyed by the economic depression of 1929, and by the growing trend towards the use of photography for magazine illustrations.
Tanner turned to teaching to earn his main income. He became a noted teacher of art. His passion for teaching fine art to young children was infused into many English counties through his role as Inspector of Schools from 1935-1964.
He also had a sideline in topographical graphic book illustration, collaborating with his wife, Heather, and he published a number of books on printmaking aimed at children. He was a benefactor of the Crafts' Study Centre, now at Farnham, Surrey.
His later work, such as Woodland Plants, shows the influence of William Morris.
His etching plates are now held at the Ashmolean Museum.
[edit] Retrospectives
- Ashmolean Museum of Art, London, 1981. "Robin Tanner".
- The Fine Art Society, London, 2004. "Visions of Landscape: Samuel Palmer & Robin Tanner".
[edit] Further reading
- Robin Garton (1988). Robin Tanner: The Etchings. ISBN 0-906030-21-8
