"The nine brief essays in this volume trace the thematic arrangement of the Cincinnati Wing galleries, situating the artwork in the context of Cincinnati's unique history as it progressed from a frontier river town to an industrial powerhouse. Taken together, they provide a vivid picture of the fertile social and cultural climate that produced such prominent figures in the history of American art as sculptor Hiram Powers and painters Robert S. Duncanson, Frank Duveneck, and John H. Twachtman. Cincinnati's landmark contributions to the decorative arts are featured in the stunning ceramics of the celebrated Rookwood Pottery Company, the nation's leading art pottery firm, as well as in the city's lesser-known yet equally significant Aesthetic Movement furniture, with exquisite carving produced mostly by women to decorate their own homes. One hundred and fifty color plates highlight the beauty and diversity of the Cincinnati Art Museum's collections and illuminate the Queen City's great artistic legacy."--BOOK JACKET.