"Even before the American Revolution, the artists and craftsmen of our young country were forging a distinguished American identity through beautiful examples of fine and decorative arts. Many of the finest examples of the work created during the earliest years of the country's history--from 1730 to 1840--were collected by the U.S. Department of State to decorate the reception rooms where important statesmen and diplomats are greeted. Highlights from this prestigious collection of American art and craft will tour in a nationwide exhibition for the first time. Becoming a Nation features more than 100 objects from the exhibition, each accompanied by detailed essays. The book includes paintings by such notable American masters as John Singleton Copley, Gilbert Stuart, and Fitz Hugh Lane; exceptional works of silver by Paul Revere and Myer Myers; and exquisite baroque, rococo, and neoclassical furniture crafted in Portsmouth, Boston, Newport, Philadelphia, and New York. A definitive study, Becoming a Nation recommends itself to experts and amateurs alike"--Publisher description.