The Railway: Art in the Age of Steam (Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art) [Hardcover]

Ian Kennedy (Author), Julian Treuherz (Author), Matthew Beaumont (Contributor), Dr. Michael Freeman (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2008 | Series: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Steam locomotives gripped the imagination when they first appeared in 19th-century Europe and America. Aboard these great machines, passengers traveled at faster speeds than ever before while watching the scenery transform itself and take on new forms. Common notions of time and space were forever changed.

 

Through vivid illustrations and engaging texts, The Railway: Art in the Age of Steam captures both the fear and excitement of early train travel as it probes the artistic response to steam locomotion within its social setting. Featuring paintings, photography, prints, and posters, the book includes numerous masterpieces by 19th- and 20th-century artists, including J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Charles Sheeler, and Edward Hopper.

 

With its wide variety of themes—landscape painting, the conquest of the West, Impressionism, issues of social class, Modernism, the aesthetics of the machine, and environmental concerns—this work promises an exhilarating journey for both train and art enthusiasts and for anyone interested in one of the industrial age’s defining achievements.

(20080813)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For anyone who likes trains or historical painting and photography, this book is a winner."—John Linsenmeyer, The Greenwich Times

(John Linsenmeyer The Greenwich Times 20080801)

"Beautiful. . . . [This] is not just a fine museum catalogue, but a truly comprehensive study of the impact of railways on society as recorded by nineteenth- and early twentieth-century painters and photographers."—Barrymore Laurence Scherer, Antiques

(Barrymore Laurence Scherer Antiques 20080901)

"The Railway captures the excitement, awe and dread that locomotives inspired in their heyday, among artists as well as the general public. . . . It should satisfy rabid trainspotters and art lovers alike."—Sheila Gibson Stoodley, Art & Antiques

(Sheila Gibson Stoodley Art & Antiques 20080823)

"This book''s range, quality and craftsmanship astonished me. I''m not alone in my fascination with rails and engines, but even if you have only a casual interest, I defy you to be nonchalant about the contents."—Kansas City Star

(Kansas City Star )

"This . . . catalogue presents an impressive range of mostly European and American images . . . of steam locomotives, track, bridges, and passengers. . . . essays . . . offer perceptive analysis and helpful background. . . .  Over 200 excellent illustrations enhance this superb overview of a fascinating subject . . ."—Choice

(Choice )

"Beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated. . . . Kennedy and Treuherz have collected an impressively broad range of images."—Kenneth John Myers, Winterthur Portfolio

(Kenneth John Myers Winterthur Portfolio )

About the Author

Ian Kennedy is Louis L. and Adelaide C. Ward Curator, European Painting and Sculpture at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. Julian Treuherz was formerly Keeper of Art Galleries, National Museums Liverpool. Matthew Beaumont is Lecturer in 19th-Century English and American Literature at University College London. Michael Freeman is Supernumerary Fellow and Lecturer in Human Geography at Mansfield College, Oxford University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; Hardcover Ed edition (June 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300138784
• ISBN-13: 978-0300138788
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 11.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,276,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A monument!, May 14, 2008

By 

Pedro Fernandes (Lisboa, Portugal) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Railway: Art in the Age of Steam (Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art) (Hardcover)

The quality of exhibition catalogs ranges from poor to excellent. In this case, we have a catalog that fulfills all most important requirements.

For one, although some snobs describe it as "pretty pictures', the reproductions are accurate, and their size is good. Especially when it comes to paintings that belong to private collections, the only hope to be reminded of the emotions one felt in the presence of the real painting, is to enjoy a decent reproduction. So I consider it a very important quality for a catalog to present well sized, good quality reproductions of all the works of art being exhibited.

Although this catalog is not a treatise about the subject of the exhibit (and I don't believe it should be), the texts are very accurate, while at the same time they are short and concise. This is what a catalog should provide, as opposed to being the space to host infinite, boring, and cryptic prolusions by some solipsistic scholar.

Last but not least, the structure of the catalog is very good, with the last few pages providing small reproductions of all the artwork organized by author, with short explanation blurbs that perfectly serve their purpose.

Overall, a very good catalog for a fantastic exhibition that brought together, in some cases for the very first time, some of the most wonderful masterpieces ever created.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating! Illustrates the intersection of art, history and technology., May 12, 2008

By 

Alan Fishman (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Railway: Art in the Age of Steam (Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art) (Hardcover)

This is a wonderfully illustrated book that documents the profound transformation an amazing technology (steam locomotion) had on all strata of society. It features masterpieces from 19th and 20th century artists and photographers and is highly readable and informative. It appealed to me as both a railway enthusiast, a reader of American and European history and as someone who enjoys art in it's many genres. I highly recommend this book.