We recently acquired for the gallery a wonderful early Still Life of Apples by Cornelius Haly Hankins. Hankins is one of Middle Tennessee’s best know early 20th century landscape and still life painters. Born in Guntown, Mississippi, Hankins moved to Nashville in 1883 and studied under Edwin M. Gardner, soon afterwards he move to Eagleville, Tennessee to teach at Miss Clark’s Select School for girls. Hankins then moved to St. Louis to study with Robert Henri, then with William Merritt Chase in New York City. Between 1894 and 1899, he lived and worked in Richmond, Virginia. By 1904 he was back in Nashville, where he lived for the remainder of his life as a portrait, landscape and still life painter. Hankins was a prolific painter in the 20th century producing many small oil’s on board. We're delighted to have this early example of his work, showing the strong influence of William Merritt Chase.