Art History: United States

Briefly describes Lawrence's life and career, shows thirteen of his major paintings, and includes comments on their composition.

Rediscovered a few years ago in woeful disrepair by a dedicated high school teacher, the murals of Chicago's public schools had long been painted over, torn down, forgotten. Dating back almost a century, these extraordinary murals, painted by celebrated artists such as Edgar Britton, Mitchell Siporin, Lucille Ward, and Edward Millman, were created during the Progressive (1904-1933) and New Deal (1933-1943) eras. "Art for the People" tells the inspiring sotry of their preservation: a project that brought conservators, historians, politicians, educators, and students together in a united cause, and that brought nearly 450 murals to light across nearly 70 schools--making this the largest mural preservation project in the U.S. as well as the largest concentration of historical murals in the country. Hundreds of color photos capture the dazzling array of murals and the restoration process. A complete reference and a finely produced record of a neglected treasure, "Art for the People" is a dramatic demonstration of the power of human hands working together not just to create art, but also to save it.

The first full-length study of the life and works of Henry Lee McFee, pioneer American cubist and prominent member of the Woodstock artists colony. McFee's still lifes are considered in detail and a survey of the critics, art theorists, and aestheticians of the period is presented. Nearly 200 illustrations, including 22 color plates.

"American Art" set the standard for American art survey courses for the last decade by providing a thorough and engaging chronology of American art, including painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative arts, photography, folk art, and graphic arts. Wayne Craven presents art and artists within the context of their times, including insights into the intellectual, spiritual, and political environment. Along the way, Craven charts the growth of a distinctly American art culture. The resulting book is as much a history of American culture as of American art.