Synopses & Reviews
Central Park is andldquo;one of the greatest works of art in Americaandrdquo; and it has inspired many of Americaandrsquo;s greatest painters. Among the major figures who have depicted the parkandrsquo;s landscapes and activities are Bellows, Chase, Glackens, Hassam, Henri, Hopper, Prendergast, and Sloan, as well as living artists like Christo and Estes. Their work shows early views of the park in construction, its major landmarks, the evolving vistas of the cityscape, and the parkandrsquo;s human elementandmdash;scenes of crowds at play and people in solitary contemplation. Painting Central Park provides a rich and varied visual history of this urban oasis, reflecting much of the American social experience in the quintessential American park.
Synopsis
Central Park is "one of the greatest works of art in America" and it has inspired many of America's greatest painters. Among the major figures who have depicted the park's landscapes and activities are Bellows, Chase, Glackens, Hassam, Henri, Hopper, Prendergast, and Sloan, as well as living artists like Christo and Estes. Their work shows early views of the park in construction, its major landmarks, the evolving vistas of the cityscape, and the park's human element--scenes of crowds at play and people in solitary contemplation. Painting Central Park provides a rich and varied visual history of this urban oasis, reflecting much of the American social experience in the quintessential American park.
About the Author
Roger F. Pasquier was born in New York City and grew up playing in Central Park. He studied art history at Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley. A lifelong birdwatcher, Pasquier spends hours in the park all through the year. He has written several books on birds and one combining his interests in birds and art, Masterpieces of Bird Art: 700 Years of Ornithological Illustration. Amanda Burden is the former director of the New York City Department of City Planning and chair of the City Planning Commission.