John La Farge's Second Paradise: Voyages in the South Seas, 1890-1891 (Yale Art Gallery) [Hardcover]

In August,1890, the artist John La Farge (1835-1910) and Henry Adams (1838-1918) began an extended trip to Polynesia. In part, the trip was a way for Adams to overcome his grief at the suicide of his wife, Clover. La Farge was a long time member of the Adams circle here in Washington so well discussed in "The Five of Hearts" and other accounts. Clover's familiar photo of La Farge taken in the library of the Adams' home on LaFayette Park across from the White House is included. So La Farge sketched and painted on the trip and Adams, ever the historian, studied the history of Tahiti and some legal issues, as well as taking photographs that would serve as the models for La Farge's later watercolor paintings contained in the volume. Eventually Adams published "Tahiti" in 1901 demonstrating how thoroughly he had immersed himself in the history of the island. By all accounts, they had a wonderful time.

I am no art critic, but the first thing that must be said about this magnificent volume from Yale is that the art is unbelievably beautiful. The book contains paintings, sketches, photographs and other material that was on exhibition at the Yale Art Gallery between October, 2010, and January 2, 2011. Most of the works relate to Tahiti. In addition, there are five substantial essays by four scholars and Henry Adams on La Farge and his work. Elisabeth Hodermarsky seeks to place La Farge within the American Landscape Movement. Elizabeth C. Childs recounts the trip itself in her essay. Adams writes about La Farge's South Seas sketchbooks. John Stuart Gordon focuses upon some of La Farge's later stained glass windows reflecting the Polynesian trip.

I was most intrigued by Ms. Childs' second essay comparing La Farge with Paul Gauguin, who arrived in Tahiti shortly after Adams and La Farge had departed. I have long loved Gauguin's paintings, but his style now does not seem as realistic as that of La Farge. Who cares? Many of Gauguin's paintings, as well as those of La Farge, are used to illustrate the Childs essay on their "common ground."

The book is so beautifully produced and printed as to be almost amazing. Excellent paper; remarkable color; clear reproduction of both paintings and photographs. Also included are a chronology, appendix, and an Adams essay: "An Inventory of the South Seas Sketchbooks." The La Farge watercolors are simply overwhelming in their beauty; his choice of subjects and situations is equally impressive.

I was primarily interested in the book because of my interest in Adams. We can read of this trip, but with these paintings we can see what so moved Adams and energized him for the remainder of his life. You don't have to be an art expert or historian to enjoy this book; I certainly am neither. It is just a beautiful experience to turn the 220 pages of the book and lose one's self in the beauty of these romantic settings. Truly something good for the soul.