Product Description
Randall Griffin's book examines the ways in which artists and critics sought to construct a new identity for America during the era dubbed the Gilded Age because of its leaders' taste for opulence. Artists such as Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, and Thomas Anshutz explored alternative 'American' themes and styles, but widespread belief in the superiority of European art led them and their audiences to look to the Old World for legitimacy. This rich, never-resolved contradiction between the native and autonomous, on the one hand, and, on the other, the European and borrowed serves as the armature of Griffin's innovative look at how and why the world of art became a key site in the American struggle for identity. Not only does Griffin trace the interplay of issues of nationalism, class, and gender in American culture, but he also offers insightful readings of key paintings by Eakins and other canonical artists. Further, Griffin shows that by 1900 the nationalist project in art and criticism had helped open the way for the formulation of American modernism. Homer, Eakins, and Anshutz will be of importance to all those interested in American culture as well as to specialists in art history and art criticism. ... Read more

Product Description
During the years following the Civil War, many artists, including Homer, Church, and Moran, created images of America's scenic wonders and great landscape icons. These works, as well as decorative art objects, popular literature, photographs, and other ephemera helped to make the country's landscape a source of national pride and promoted landscape tourism.

FREDERIC CHURCH, WINSLOW HOMER, AND THOMAS MORAN: Tourism and the American Landscape is a major exhibition mounted by the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum which will showcase, for the first time in more than two decades, the museum's extraordinary collection of more than 2000 paintings and drawings, which encompasses the largest grouping of Homer and Church objects in the world. Five original essays will accompany the 200 illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Travel Paintings from Early America
I am a big fan of American Impressionism and I like all three of the artists featured in this book.It's a scholarly review of the images that made Americans travel to see if the scenery was as magical as these artists depicted.From the New England coast, Niagra Falls, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite these artist were engaging in a recording of scenery that would soon be altered by the hordes of tourists that followed.
While photography was just beginning to record many of these same scenes it was not in color and it lacked the ephemeral quality that master painters like Church, Homer, and Moran were able to create.
I'm fairly certain this is the first time three of my favorite artists are featured in one book and show favorite scenes of magnificent American places.It is sold at many art galleries for much more than one can find on Amazon.It's picture intensive, meaning if you prefer more examples and less text you will be happy with this effort.A well-balanced effort. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Six colorful scenes of outdoor life and the sea by one of 19th-century America’s most powerfully original painters include The Coral Divers and Gloucester Sunset. Perforated for easy removal, this miniature art gallery will charm fine art enthusiasts as well as those who appreciate depictions of seascapes. 6 full-color cards.
... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
We all know the story:

Three bind mice...

See how they run.

They all ran after the farmer's wife

who cut off their tails with a carving knife...

Now, in this tidy little book, first published over a hundred years ago, are all the gruesome and surprising details. The mice have names -- Frisky, Graysy, and Longtail. And they are "very dutiful and loving little mice who seldom did anything very naughty to make their mother scold them." But Mrs. Grumpy will leave out mince pies and slabs of cheese, and that's too tempting for even the best little mice. Their exploits become bolder and bolder, yet they escape cat and kittens with ease. They'd probably still be at it but for a large basin of vinegar and the terrible carving knife of Mrs. Grumpy.

This version of the familiar story is happily graced with illustrations by Winslow Homer, one of the greatest 19th century painters. These little treasures, originally published with the text as part of the Good Child's Library in 1858, have been lost to the world for many years. Their rediscovery and the publication of this new edition by Oxford brings them to a contemporary audience as exceptional examples of Homer's skill as an illustrator.

In his introduction, Maurice Sendak writes of his long-time interest in Homer and how he has fallen in love with this story that "literally gets away with murder." The afterword by Joseph W. Reed discusses Homer's work and the significance of the illustrations. But the pictures themselves are the true stars here. In every aspect, this small book--almost forgotten--is a gem for children and adults, and a significant addition to Winslow Homer's body of work. ... Read more

Product Description
An anthology of nature poems by the author of Walden features poetry concerned with how one lives in nature and complemented by watercolor illustrations by Homer, Singer Sargent, and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A beautiful addition to any Thoreau library
This volume certainly isn't the first (or last) publication to match Henry David Thoreau's words with beautiful photos.The differences here are that (a) the text is solely Thoreau's poetry, and (b) the accompanying visuals are pieces from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.It is Thoreau's *prose* that is most often quoted and reprinted ad infinitum.In spite of the fact that he described himself as a poet by profession, today Thoreau's poetry is frequently dismissed as being sub-par or not worth considering at all.This treatment serves to remedy that situation.

Here, 52 poems are illustrated with the work of more than 20 artists.Sixteen of the paintings are from Winslow Homer and six are from John Singer Sargent.Putting Thoreau's words next to Homer's artwork is a perfect match.Both men were inspired by the natural world and conveyed their connectedness in their creations.

One of the most compelling entries is not Nature-oriented."I Am the Little Irish Boy" tells the story of a youngster whose father was a railroad worker.The facing page shows Jessie Wilcox Smith's red-haired tyke looking out from her illustration called "When Daddy was a Little Boy."The well-dressed boy in the picture is better off than the one described in the poem, and yet his eyes will catch you and make you think about the similarities instead.

This smallish coffee table book could be opened to a different poem and painting each day, it's that nice.Scoop one up if you can find it!

The perfect combination
Winslow Homer's watercolors perfectly complement Thoreau's works.For someone new to Thoreau's poetry, it is an enchanting collection sure to engage, capturing the essence of New England nature, and Transcendentalist philosophy.It is a beautiful tribute to two who were masters of their crafts. ... Read more