JOHN STEUART CURRY'S PAGEANT OF AMERICA

Professor Schmeckebier of the University of Minnesota presents not only a vigorous portrait of one of America's leading artists, but makes one feel that one sees his power in the making, that one understands from what he draws his inspiration, his power, his peculiarly American spirit. Brought up on a farm, working with his hands and associating men who were living the sort of life he depicts in his paintings, Curry has almost consistently tapped his own personal knowledge for his work. He frequently shows the hazards of man against the elements. His biographer makes one see the experimentation, the experience, the problems behind his work. He has a close personal knowledge of the man and appreciation of his art; he has used his notes, his sketches, to make the reader share that knowledge. The second part of the book deals with his work, the form, content, themes that go into them. He makes one feel the Whitman in the artist.