Portrait: The Life of Thomas Eakins
Category: Books,History,Americas
Portrait: The Life of Thomas Eakins Details
About the Author William S. McFeely is Abraham Baldwin Professor of the Humanities, Emeritus, at the University of Georgia. He is the author of Yankee Stepfather: General O. O. Howard and the Freedmen; Grant: A Biography, for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the Parkman Prize; Frederick Douglass, which received the Lincoln Prize; Sapelo’s People: A Long Walk into Freedom; and Proximity to Death. Read more
Related
- 2019 Planner: Marble + Gold Geometric | 8.5 x 11 in | Weekly View 2019 Planner Organizer with Dotted Grid Pages + Motivational Quotes + To-Do Lists (Weekly Planner 2019) (Volume 4)
- 2019-2020 2 Year Pocket Planner: Monthly Agenda Organiser | Cute Ginger Cat (24 Month Calendar)
- This Girl is Never Giving Up 2018-2019: Academic Planner Aug 2018 - July 2019 || Weekly View || To Do Lists, Goal-Setting, Class Schedules + More (Female Empowerment) (Volume 1)
- Weekly Planner: Ultra Minimalist Undated Weekly + Monthly Planner (Minimal Planners)
- Write & Relax Journals
- Notebook: Classic Lined Notebook Journal | 120 Pages | Galaxy Black
- L Weekly Planner: Minimalist Monogram Initial Undated Weekly Planner
- Internet Password Logbook: Keep your Passwords Organized in Style | Password Logbook, Password Keeper, Online Organizer Floral Design (Password Organizers) (Volume 2)
- A Bullet Journal: Letter A Initial in Space Bullet Journal | 120 Pages | Galaxy Fantasy Dot Grid Journal (Fantasy Galaxy) (Volume 1)
- I'm Going To Make You So Proud Note to Self Bullet Journal: Marble + Gold Bullet Journal | 120 Pages | Motivational Dot Grid Journal (Female Empowerment Journals) (Volume 1)
Reviews
Biographies of artists that are written by biographers come from a unique perspective. Rather than the art explaining the man, as an art historian may attempt, the artist's life and challenges tell us about the art. The life is the most important; the art is secondary. That's the perspective that William McFeely takes in this book. However, the book seems to be divided into two. The first half seems a bit awkward at times and editing choppy. For example, in one paragraph the book alternatively uses " Eakins' " and " Eakins's ". Then, almost the same sentence is used two pages later to covey the same thought. However, the second half of the book warms up. McFeely tells us of a deeply feeling man in a world unable to accept his sexuality. Although apparently true about Eakins, McFeely seems to use unsupported conjecture at times. The author also excuses the behavior that caused Eakins to be fired twice, blaming the indiscretions on homosexuality or perhaps idealism surrounding the human body, rather than on an inappropriate lack of boundaries. Nevertheless, McFeely conveys a very human story and one worth reading for anyone interested in the man.
