Oxford Dictionary of American Art and Artists [Paperback]

Hailed byChoiceas concise, clear, and very informative, The Oxford Dictionary of American Art and Artists--the first such dictionary to appear in three decades--offers an informative, insightful, and long overdue resource on our nation's artistic heritage. Featuring 945 alphabetically arranged entries, here is an indispensable biographical and critical guide to American art from colonial times to contemporary postmodernism. Readers will find a wealth of factual detail and insightful analysis of the leading American painters, ranging from John Singleton Copley, Thomas Cole, and Mary Cassatt to such modern masters as Jackson Pollack, Romare Bearden, and Andy Warhol. The range of coverage is indeed impressive, but equally important is the quality of analysis that appears in entry after entry. Morgan gives readers a wealth of trustworthy and authoritative information as well as perceptive, well-informed criticism of artists and their work. In addition, the book is thoroughly cross-referenced, so readers can easily find additional information on any topic of interest.

Ann Lee Morganworks as an independent scholar in Princeton, New Jersey. She has taught art history at the University of Illinois at Chicago and worked in publishing as an editor of art reference books.