Dramatic historical events have frequently provided subject matter for artists; particularly in pre-twentieth-century Texas; where works portraying historical; often legendary; events and individuals predominated. Until now; however; these paintings of Texas history have never received the kind of study given to historical; fictional; and film versions of the same events. Painting Texas History to 1900 fills this gap with an interdisciplinary approach that explores these paintings both as works of art and as historical documents. The author examines the works of more than forty artists; including Henry McArdle; Theodore Gentilz; Robert Onderdonk; William Huddle; Frederic Remington; Friedrich Richard Petri; Arthur T. Lee; Seth Eastman; Sarah Hardinge; Frank Reaugh; W. G. M. Samuel; Carl G. von Iwonski; and Julius Stockfleth. He places each work within its historical and cultural context to show why such subject matter was chosen; why it was depicted in a particular way; and why such a depiction gained popular acceptance. For example; paintings of heroic events of the Texas Revolution were especially popular in the years following the Civil War; when; in Ratcliffes view; Texans needed such images to assuage the loss of the war and the humiliation of Reconstruction. Though the paintings cut across traditional art history categoriesmdash;from the pictographs of early historic Indians to European-inspired oil paintingsmdash;they are bound together by their artists intent for them to function as historically evocative documents. With their visual narratives of events that characterized all of Americas westward expansionmdash;Indian encounters; military battles; farming; ranching; surveying; and the closing of the frontiermdash;these works add an important chapter to the story of the American West.
#2436633 in eBooks 2007-03-05 2007-03-05File Name: B00EE2ZT60
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very interestingBy tvtI was visiting Mexico and heard so much about Frida. This book is a very good description of her life. Loved it13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. a closer look at Fridas workBy ShemogueAfter seeing the film "Frida" starring Selma Hayek; I wanted to see more of Frida Kahlos paintings. (I had already been to Mexico City where the guides readily show you Diego Riveras murals but say nary a word about Frida except when she appears in Diegos works).I am pleased I chose this beautiful and profusely illustrated coffee-table style book. It holds a place of honour on my bookshelves; its cover-jacket and self-portrait of Frida her trademark "unibrow" facing the viewer as you walk in the door.The book was produced to accompany the 2005 Tate Gallery exhibition of Frida Kahlos work; and is a must-have for anyone wishing to have a closer look at her life and art without the trouble and expense of travelling to Mexico.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. A life through portraitsBy Reich ClaudeThe catalogue for the 2005 Tate exhibition; this book is a complete survey of F.Kahlos career. Present here are her major portraits (of the Mexican high society as well as of her husband; Diego Rivera) and also her more famous self-portraits. An informative text helps the reader forget all the recent hype surrounding the artist and concentrate on her best legacy: her paintings; many of which are masterpieces of introspection and portraiture.Seeing all the self-portraits; one after the other; makes you understand the artists life; pains and sorrows; better than any Hollywood mega-production...