{"product_id":"9781588347619","title":"Magnificent Intentions","description":"\u003cb\u003eOffering a unique glimpse into American history, this is the first book to celebrate the compelling work of the United States' first federal photographer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeatures 160 photographs capturing Washington, DC in the midst of Civil War\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite his prolific career as the first US federal photographer, John Wood has been largely forgotten. With 160 stunning, high-resolution images, \u003ci\u003eMagnificent Intentions \u003c\/i\u003eestablishes Wood as a leader among American photographers of the time and provides historical context for his overlooked work and legacy, which includes:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe first inauguration photo, from James Buchanan's inauguration in 1857\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNewly uncovered evidence that Wood was the photographer who documented Abraham Lincoln's first inauguration in 1861, the only surviving photograph of that historic event\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHundreds of photographs of the construction of public buildings in DC, most notably the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Aqueduct\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePioneering innovations in the use of photography to duplicate maps and plans during the Civil War\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe first panoramic photos of Washington, DC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdrienne Lundgren, senior photograph conservator at the Library of Congress, explores how Wood's life shaped his photographic eye and examines innovative techniques that made him a pioneer among his contemporaries, including his use of uncommonly large format plates and his experimentation with the dry collodion process. The book includes an enriching foreword from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, and not only celebrates the artistic and technical merit of Wood's photos, but also chronicles the fascinating evolution of early photography and the federal government's use of the medium to shape public understanding of the American experience. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMagnificent Intentions \u003c\/i\u003eshines the spotlight on a little-known photographer with a masterful collection. From getting dispatched to the frontlines to photograph maps for General George B. McClellan to witnessing the installation of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol dome, Wood captured significant moments of the mid-19th century. His photos document the construction of transformative buildings that reflected a country with its eye on the future, even as it was gripped by the Civil War.","brand":"Adrienne Lundgren","offers":[{"title":"Smithsonian |  Hardback  |  2024-04-30","offer_id":44663255302399,"sku":"9781588347619","price":73.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0329\/9075\/7001\/files\/BNCImageAPI_77ed4437-59e2-4106-ac95-18fd02830e1f.jpg?v=1704535102","url":"https:\/\/riverbookshop.com\/products\/9781588347619","provider":"River Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}