Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-226) and index.
Summary:
Selling Andrew Jackson is the first book-length study of the American portrait painter Ralph E.W. Earl, who worked as Andrew Jackson's personal artist from 1817 until Earl's death in 1838. During this period Jackson held Earl in close council, even providing him residence at the Hermitage, Jackson's home in Tennessee, and at the White House during his presidency. In this well-researched and comprehensive volume, Rachel Stephens examines Earl's role in Jackson's inner circle and the influence of his portraits on Jackson's political career and historical legacy. By investigating the role that visual culture played in early American history, Stephens reveals the fascinating connections between politics and portraiture in order to challenge existing frameworks for grasping the inner workings of early nineteenth-century politics. Stephens argues that understanding the role Earl played within Jackson's coterie is critical to understanding the trajectory of Jackson's career. Earl, she concludes, should be credited with playing the propagandistic role of image-shaper--long before such a position existed within American presidential politics. Earl's portraits became fine art icons that changed in character and context as Jackson matured from the hero of the Battle of New Orleans to the first common-man president to the leader of the Democratic party, and finally to the rustic sage of the Hermitage. Jackson and Earl worked as a team to exploit an emerging political culture that sought pictures of famous people to complement the nation's exploding mass culture, grounded on printing, fast communications, and technological innovation. To further this cause, Earl operated a printmaking enterprise and used his portrait images to create engravings and lithographs to spread Jackson's influence into homes and businesses. Portraits became vehicles to portray political allegiances, middle-class cultural aspirations, and the conspicuous trappings of wealth and power. Through a comprehensive analysis of primary sources including those detailing Jackson's politics, contemporary political cartoons and caricatures, portraits and prints, and the social and economic history of the period, Stephens illuminates the man they pictured in new ways, seeking to broaden the understanding of such a complicated figure in American history. -- Provided by publisher. "This book offers a dynamic study of the interconnected web of art and politics within the tumultuous Jacksonian era. Analyzing the portraits and prints of Andrew Jackson by his personal artist, Ralph E.W. Earl, these works are placed into dialog with Jackson's politics, contemporary political cartoons and caricatures, and the social and economic history of the period. Situating Earl's images of Jackson within the context of their creation is critical to relating the social and political implications of these paintings to the mindset of the Jackson circle. This study illuminates the man they pictured in new ways, seeking to broaden the understanding of such a complicated figure in American history. As the first full-length study of Earl's work, the significance of the artist's background and life within the Jackson circle is addressed. Placing Earl's work within the context of its production, political intent, and the early American art scene, this book explores these and other key aspects regarding artistic development in the early nineteenth century. Earl's paintings spoke directly to the contemporary moment, while reflecting past art styles and aggrandizing their hero. Earl situated himself at the intersection of American politics and portraiture (as this book also intends to do), and this reveals the fascinating connections that may be drawn between these two dynamic facets of early American history"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.