Early American Wall Paintings 1710-1850

Watkins Glen, NY: Century House, 1969. Reissue. Softcover. VG (Covers are slightly aged, otherwise nice.). Cream wraps, 112 pp., 127 bw plates. A paperback reissue of this 1926 classic. "In the opening years of the eighteenth century the first of our historic wall paintings made their appearance in the homes of the colonial aristocracy, the officers of the crown, and wealth merchants. These old wall pictures, with the exception of several in Virginia and Yeamans' Hall near Charleston, South Carolina (built prior to 1680 and destroyed by the great earthquake), are strangely enough confined to New England. Probably it was a natural reaction to the early religious prejudice against all forms of art and luxury. The oldest group of paintings comprises the wainscot panels in the parlors of the Clark house in Boston and 'Marion' in Virginia. They are rich in color, and are adorned with figures, flowers, landscapes, or escutcheons. Included with these is a series of single panels, one to a room. These are for the most part landscapes, and some, in their very crudeness, have the charm of the grotesque." (back cover)

One of 1000 copies.