Henry Aloysius Hanke was born in Sydney in 1901.

He studied at the J.S. Watkins School in Sydney c1918.

He exhibited landscapes, portraits and still life with the Royal Art Society in the 1930’s.

Hanke served in the military history section of the AIF during World War II (1943-1945).

He was best known in Sydney for his prize-winning works: Archibald Prize 1934; Sulman Prize 1936; prizes at Royal Art Society NSW 1960 and 1963; Northside Festival, Albury, Katoomba, Drummoyne 1963; Rockdale 1964; Goulburn 1965.

He is represented at the Art Gallery of NSW, Australian War Memorial, National Portrait Gallery and the Newcastle Regional Art Gallery.