The American School: Artists and Status in the Late Colonial and Early National Era

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Exploring the status of 18th- and early 19th-century American artists, the book provides a comprehensive art-historical analysis of their experiences across the transatlantic world. Susan Rather investigates portrait painting, art trade, and colonial identity in major cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and London. She highlights both renowned artists like John Singleton Copley and lesser-known figures, while examining the evolving concept of "American" identity in the context of post-Revolutionary War cultural dynamics.