The Light of Distant Skies, 1760-1835

by James Thomas Flexner

Book Overview

Looks at the work of Benjamin West, Charles Willson Peale, Samuel Morse, Audubon, Gilbert Stuart, John Singleton Copley, and John Trumbull. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486221792
• ISBN13: 9780486221793
• Release Date: January 1969
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 307 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fills the Historical Niche

During the era when America was establishing itself as a new country, the arts, particularly painting was finding its way as a new medium of expression. There were issues about what the activies in which gentleman was or was not supposed to be involved, marketing issues, matters pertaining to how one learned the skills necessary for the work and such. This book narrates the issues as they were hammered out one by one.Some of the men whose works were perserved for posterity did not see themselves as history remembered them. Edwards Hicks had the gift of evangelical preaching. His artwork lives on. Samuel Morse was a leader in getting painting accepted in the mainstream. He is largely remembered for his invention. Audubon saw himself more as a scientist than a painter, although he is largely remember for his art.This book describes the tension between the newly founded U.S. and the "mother country" from which we had just won a revolution. Politics influenced the art world then as now. The personalities and issues of the day are covered in this book.