One of a series of systematic catalogues of the National Gallery of Art's collection, this comprehensive volume discusses in detail 310 objects that comprise one of the world's outstanding repositories of American naive paintings. Works by renowned folk artists such as Edward Hicks, Erastus Salisbury Field, and Ammi Phillips are represented in depth and placed in stylistic as well as historical context. This catalogue is an indispensable tool for historians of Amerian painting and folk art, and for students of American life and culture. Thorough documentation and commentary are provided for the first time on some of the most intriguing images produced in America in the past two hundred years.
The energy and optimism of the new nation are abundantly apparent in this catalogue. It features some of the icons of American art, such as John Singleton Copley's The Copley Family and Gilbert Stuart's portraits of the first five presidents. Numerous paintings, including Benjamin West's Colonel Guy Johnson and Karonghyontye (Captain David Hill), are discussed from a new perspective, the result of information culled from letters, wills, and other previously unpublished documents. The author offers new interpretations of some works, among them Charles Willson Peale's portrait of the Baltimore couple Benjamin and Eleanor Ridgely Laming. The volume is richly illustrated, with carefully selected comparative illustrations.
Generations of coin collectors have grown up with the Lincoln cent. Now, as the coin nears its 100th anniversary (and the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth), Q. David Bowers provides a detailed study of this great American classic. "Lincoln cents are among the most fascinating coins in the entire American series," writes Bowers. "Believe it or not, they also offer some of the greatest challenges." In this single volume you'll absorb the history of the coin's two classic reverse designs, take an inside look at the minting process, and learn how to grade your collection, including Proofs. Bowers shares tips on becoming a smarter buyer. He even gives a sneak preview of what the U.S. Mint has in store with a 2009 redesign. The book includes a thorough market analysis for each date and mintmark, and a special appendix on error coins. Read and enjoy, as you gain a better appreciation of America's most popular cent. Book jacket.