American Art

American Art by John Wilmerding is a beautifully produced 1976 hardcover volume published by Penguin Books in association with the New York Graphic Society. This first edition comes housed in a sturdy, illustrated slipcase, which features a vivid reproduction of Winslow Homer’s Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) on the front. The slipcase is both protective and decorative, adding to the book’s appeal as a collectible and display piece.

The book itself spans 208 pages and is richly illustrated throughout, with more than 150 images including 72 plates in full color. These illustrations cover a wide sweep of American art history, from early colonial portraiture through to the advent of modernism in the mid-20th century. Wilmerding, a respected art historian and former curator at the National Gallery of Art, writes with clarity and insight, making this volume both scholarly and accessible.

His analysis touches on major movements and figures in American art, exploring the cultural and historical contexts that shaped works by artists such as John Singleton Copley, Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins, Edward Hopper, and Georgia O’Keeffe. The book is organized thematically and chronologically, providing a narrative that is as compelling as it is informative.

Bound in red cloth boards with gilt lettering on the spine, the hardcover edition is of high production quality. The dust jacket, if present, mirrors the art featured on the slipcase and is printed on thick, glossy stock. Overall, this edition of American Art is ideal for collectors, art students, and anyone with an appreciation for the visual and cultural heritage of the United States.