Lafayette, Hero of Two Worlds: The Art and Pageantry of His Farewell Tour of America, 1824-1825

x, 201 pp. Produced to accompany an exhibition commemorating General Gilbert du Motier Lafayette's triumphal visit to America nearly 50 years after the outbreak of the American Revolution--in which his participation proved indispensable--this felicitous mesh of history and art presents such curiosities as a coach that carried Lafayette from Albany to Buffalo and a breast pin con taining locks of Lafayette's and George Washington's hair. Idzerda (co-editor of Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution ) contributes a biographical essay. Loveland ( Emblem of Liberty: The Image of Lafayette in the American Mind ) captures the reactions of the populace to this hero of two revolutions and defines the manner in which his visit acted as "a crucial impetus to American nationalism." Miller, curator of the Queens (N.Y.) Museum, distinguishes the styles of portraits and busts of the period, examines Lafayette's influence on the restoration of Revolutionary War sites and traces the shapes of monuments to their classical origins. The Bicentennial of the French Revolution has sparked many publications examining the historical relationship between France and the United States. This paperback exhibition catalog surveys the life of Gen. Gilbert du Motier Lafayette (1757-1834), his contribution to the American Cause during the Revolutionary War, his triumphant return to America 50 years later, and the fine and decorative arts created to commemorate his visit. Beloved by Americans, the gracious and energetic elder statesman traveled through all existing states. The highly exciting event promoted American nationalism and fostered artistic expression, as the nearly 200 illustrations in this book attest. Fascinating reading; for American history and art collections.