Browse Items (687 total)

This painting depicts a calm oak grove with Bannister’s characteristic atmospheric depth. Though seemingly simple, it reflects his commitment to claiming legitimate space within the landscape tradition dominated by white artists. Its inclusion…

This pastoral scene shows Bannister’s talent with rhythm, light, and his sensitivity to the labour of everyday life. His inclusion of working figures disrupts the idealized landscapes popular in his era, and he inserts lived working-class experience…

This painting operates on both an aesthetic and a symbolic level. On the surface, Approaching Storm is a technical study of shifting weather, featuring Bannister’s characteristic atmospheric depth. But within the context of Black art history, the…

This early landscape depicts the refined cottages of Dorchester, a wealthy Boston suburb frequented by the patrons Bannister hoped to attract. The painting reveals how he strategically worked within upper-class visual tastes to secure recognition and…

An evening harbour scene, this work reflects Bannister’s fascination with atmosphere, light, and the drama of a coastal setting. The glowing moon and silhouetted ships create a contemplative mood common in his maritime work. Its presence in the…

This landscape places a lone woodcutter along a winding path, surrounded by dense and dark nature. The composition draws attention to manual labour. In a historical moment when Black labour was exploited and rarely represented, Bannister’s decision…

This angelic genre scene offers a glimpse of everyday life, capturing a moment of movement and companionship. Bannister’s interest in casual human interaction shows his commitment to depicting ordinary experiences in breathtaking detail.