Synopsis
During the last six years of his life, John Orne Johnson "J.O.J" Frost produced more than 120 paintings that are a vivid account of life before the Civil War in the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts. With no artistic training, he began to paint at the age of seventy, using house paint and wallboards to preserve the seaport's unique history and heroic role in the American Revolution. Some critics deemed J.O.J. Frost to be one of the nation's preeminent folk artists, yet he is barely known beyond his home town."The Paintings of J.O.J. Frost: An American Story" is the first comprehensive treatment of this endearing artist. Vividly reproduced images, from public and private collections, place an unprecedented number of Frost's engaging pictures in the hands of readers. Frost's storytelling depictions are accompanied by the equally compelling story of the twists and turns that determined the fate of these paintings that could have easily gone to the trash heap. Woven into the text are never-before compiled comments from art critics that provide unique insight into Frost's evolution from local ridicule to international recognition.This engaging book offers readers a unique view of American history, a universal story of art's struggle for its rightful place, a delightful visual feast, and a memorable entry into the world of J.O.J. Frost.
