Abstract
Stored in a large folder containing Maine Shaker Joshua Bussell's 1845 map titled “A plan of Alfred, Maine” at the Library of Congress is a drawing of three separate highly detailed ink and watercolor renderings of Shaker buildings. This trio of drawings is arresting for the vivid colors, assertive lines, and the artist’s meticulous attention to detail. The composition is an enigma among all known Shaker drawings. Neither map nor spirit drawing, architectural plan nor fanciful depiction, the purpose of this set is mysterious. The artist neither identified the buildings nor signed his/ her work. But the trio invites further examination, and some focused effort yields several insights.
Date
1-1-2025
Volume
19
Number
1
First Page
3
Last Page
26
Journal Title
American Communal Societies Quarterly
ISSN
1939-473X
