FA: 1846 - Portrait of a Nation, National Portrait Gallery

1846
Portrait of a Nation
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
by Margaret C. S. Christman

Introduced by Robert Remini, the notable historian of the Jacksonian era,
1846 showcases contemporary images of America on the verge of realizing its
"manifest destiny." The war with Mexico dominated that year and hence the
imagery here. Cartoons, daguerreotypes, and paintings capture the action of
politicians and generals involved in the conquering of California, while
Christman's text outlines the events that instigated the war. Exciting as
the war was to people back home, plenty of other trends kept society busy,
such as rapid urbanization, the railroad boom, and the movements to abolish
slavery and temper the consumption of alcohol. To illustrate those trends,
covers of contemporary publications abound, interspersed with portraits of
advocates of the cause in question, such as Frederick Douglass.

Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC, 1996, 1st printing, 211 pages,
9" x 11", trade paperback, illustrated.

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Auction closes 12/14/05.