Ernest Martin Hennings (1886-1956)
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Ernest Martin Hennings is an important American artist, best known for his involvement in the Taos Society of Artists in New Mexico. Hennings was born far from the pueblos of the southwest, in Pennsgrove, New Jersey. Hennings began his migration westward during his childhood years, when his family relocated to Chicago.
It was in Chicago that Hennings first became interested in art, and decided to study at the Art Institute of Chicago. Hennings studied for five years, graduating with several accolades, including the “American Traveling Scholarship”. Hennings opted not to travel, to commence a career in commercial art.
Hennings made a decent living as a commercial artist, but decided to change course in 1912. Luckily, Hennings was awarded second place in the Prix de Rome, enabling him to travel to Europe and study at the Royal Academy in Munich. While abroad, Hennings participated in the American Artists club, along with Walter Ufer and Victor Higgins (who later joined the Taos Society of Artists).
Due to the start of World War I, Hennings returned to Chicago where he continued working as a painter and commercial artist. Hennings had considerable success, receiving commissions from a wealthy patron, Carter Harrison. In 1917, Harrison sent Hennings on a painting trip to New Mexico.
Hennings felt an immediate connection to New Mexico after visiting Taos. By 1921, he decided to settle in Taos, joining the Taos Society of Artists within a couple of years. Hennings continued to receive commissions, including a series for the Santa Fe Railway.
Hennings work is now in highly reputable collections, such as the Koshare Indian Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the Gilcrease Institute, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Do you think you own a painting by this renowned Taos artist? Contact us. We are the experts on Ernest Walter Hennings.