This meticulously researched history of the National Academy of Design provides a fascinating look at the institution and its impact on American art and culture. With engaging prose and detailed analysis, author Thomas Seir Cummings chronicles the Academy's evolution from its founding to the present day. A must-read for art history buffs and anyone interested in the intersection of art and society. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.