The First Thing to Know About Robert Henri
Is How to Pronounce His Name

by Maura McGurk, November 21, 2013

I recently made a presentation to docents at the Tacoma Art Museum about Robert Henri. I thought it would be easy, since his The Art Spirit, a compilation of charismatic lectures to his students, propelled me through many of my painting classes in college.

The first thing I learned is that I’ve been pronouncing his name wrong all these years! It’s not French; it’s pronounced HEN-rye. Silly me. He was born in Cincinnati as Robert Henry Cozad, but after his father killed a local rancher in a land dispute, the scandal caused the family to move, and each to adopt different surnames.