America: A History in Art: The American Journey Told by Painters, Sculptors, Photographers, and Architects

By William G. Scheller

The rich history of America, from before the time of Columbus through the present day, is told as never before, enhanced by hundreds of representative artworks. From the earliest Native Americans through the explorers and first settlers, the fight for independence, the expansion west, the war between the states and those on foreign soil--right up to our most recent past--each era and key event of our nation's history unfolds in clear prose, documented by significant paintings, sculptures, photographs, and works of architecture. Some 300 lavishly reproduced works of art light the journey through America's past. Each chapter features a detailed recounting of the events of an era, including informative sidebars on key figures and developments-- plus a gallery of artwork that illuminates the period. Artists represented include Ansel Adams, George Bellows, Thomas Eakins, Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Philip Johnson, Franz Kline, Georgia O'Keeffe, Gilbert Stuart, and Andrew Wyeth. Informative text and detailed captions place art and life side by side for a fully realized history like no other, and an expert introduction frames the work and places it in world context.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1579127797
• ISBN13: 9781579127794
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 5.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 11.0" x 12.5"

Customer Reviews

American Art in Historical Context: A Refreshing Approach

American Art in Historical Context: A Refreshing Approach William Scheller's book, America: A History in Art, is a well-organized, beautifully illustrated review of American art that gives an informative, envigorating historical context to the work of this country's artists from its earliest years through the 20th Century and beyond. Scheller's writing style is as lively as it is unpretentious -- a breath of scholarly fresh air in what can be a suffocatingly self-important area of research. The images that the author uses to illustrate this book are not the usual, painfully predictable choices. Altogether, with its concise historical backdrop, its delightful images and its casual and yet elegant writing, this book makes an excellent addition to the library of both practicing artists and lovers of art.

Same book sold at Potterybarn!

I bought this book because I saw it as a coffee table book at Potterybarn! It was a lot less expensive and it looks just as nice :)