The Norwegian painter, Marie Katharine Helene Tannæs, began her education at Den Kongelige Tegneskole (The Royal Drawing School) in Oslo in 1872 under Christian Wexelsen (1830–1883) and moved on to attend Den Private Kunstskole (The Private Art School) under Christian Krohg (1852–1925), Hans Heyerdahl (1857–1913) and Erik Werenskiold Erik Werenskiold in 1884.

She studied in Paris from 1888 to 1889 and again in 1892, at first under Gustave-Claude-Etienne Courtois at Académie Colarossi (1852–1923), and later with Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824–1898) in 1892. Later study tours went to Italy 1898 and Sicily from 1901 to 1902. Tannæs received honours at the world exhibitions in Paris in 1889 and 1900 and in San Fransisco in 1915. She was on the board of the art society, Bildende Kunstneres Styre, in 1913–15 and from 1909 to 1914 she was on the jury of the exhibition, Høstutstillingen, and exhibited here from 1883 to 1934. Her work which mainly comprised landscapes and portrayals is exhibited in several Norwegian museums including Nasjonalgalleriet (The National Gallery).

Provenance: Bruun Rasmussen auction 1408, 2014 no. 27.