Portrait of a Nation, Second Edition

This essential volume showcases portraits of prominent Americans who have influenced the nation's history from its earliest days to the present. It features 150 paintings, photographs, drawings, posters, sculptures, screenprints, and digital video stills carefully selected from the National Portrait Gallery of leading politicians, artists, athletes, celebrities, and scholars. Each image is accompanied by commentary that illuminates the person's life and legacy. Subjects include Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, Louis Armstrong, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, John Steinbeck, Venus and Serena Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Pedro Martinez, and Oprah Winfrey. Portrait of a Nation is a compelling composite portrait of America.The National Portrait Gallery, which averages one million visits per year, is dedicated to the exhibition and study of portraits of people who have made significant contributions to American history and culture. It is the only museum of its kind in the United States to reflect the connection between American history, biography, and art.Portraits of American icons of social, cultural, and political importance