They were united by a patriotic commitment to the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery. The founding meeting of the Association took place at the height of the Civil War-just days after Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation. New research reveals that the members of the Association sought reform not only in the practice of art, but also in the broader political arena during the Civil War era, particularly in the debate about slavery. The Association members included artists who produced a remarkable number of stunningly beautiful works during the period when they were active members and paying strict attention to Ruskin’s admonition that they leave tradition behind, exit the studio, work outdoors, and reproduce nature’s “truth” with exacting detail. Ruskin’s call for a revolutionary change in the practice of art found a sympathetic audience in America among a group of like-minded artists, architects, scientists, critics, and collectors who organized the Association for the Advancement of Truth in Art. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Ruskin (1819–1900), the most influential art critic of the Victorian era, the National Gallery of Art will present more than 80 paintings, watercolors, drawings, and photographs created by American artists who were profoundly influenced by the renowned critic.

Schreiber 1882 horse sketch