Americans: paintings and photographs from the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC

Abstract

Americans is an introduction to the history of the United States of America through the art of portraiture. Bringing together over 120 famous American figures, this book draws on the vibrant collections of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington to represent a selection of heroes, writers, statesmen, inventors, educators, musicians, artists and scientists. Together, these portraits comprise a unique overview of the contribution that individuals have made to American politics, society and culture. Accompanied by informative biographies, the subjects are engaging and wide-ranging - Sequoyah, Henry Clay, Mary Cassatt, George Washington, George Gershwin, Edith Wharton, Martha Graham, Cary Grant, Michael Jackson and Martin Luther-King. The portraits, which date from the 1720s to the 1990s, have been selected to represent American men and women of achievement yet they also form a narrative about the genre of portraiture and vary in style and technique, from the sophisticated paintings of John Singer Sargent and the stark photographs of Richard Avedon, to work by self-taught artists such as Thomas Badger and William Elwell. Some portraits include details that tell us about the sitter's accomplishments at first glance, whilst others benefit from insights offered in contemporary descriptions. With illuminating essays from leading transatlantic critics, curators, writers and historians, Americans aims to provide a popular and critical analysis of American history in an unusual but accessible format. Americans accompanies an exhibition of paintings and photographs from the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, at the National Portrait Gallery in London from 10 October 2002 to 12 January 2003.