Book Description

This volume goes well beyond the scope of the typical exhibition catalogue and becomes, in the end, the first great study of La Farge's late South Seas works, and one of the first comprehensive overviews of the activities of Western artists in the South Seas in the late 19th century. The catalogue's (and exhibition's) title refers to La Farge's first great artistic inspiration (1850s-60s) being the area around Paradise Beach in Newport, RI, and his second inspiration (1890s) being a trip to the South Seas. A number of important scholars have contributed essays to this volume. Among them are the longtime La Farge scholar Henry Adams, who contributes an essay titled "John La Farge's South Seas Sketchbooks: Their Nature and Their Significance" (along with an inventory of the South Seas sketchbooks); and Elizabeth Childs, who contributes an essay comparing the activities of Paul Gauguin and John La Farge during their respective sojourns in Tahiti (it turns out that Gauguin arrived in Tahiti only a week or so after La Farge left it for Fiji). This is an attractively produced volume in square quarto format, with 160 color illustrations and many more in black and white. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers. General Readers; Lower-division Undergraduates; Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by M. W. Sullivan.