In 1938, Thomas Gilcrease, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, opened the first museum devoted to the art of the American West. A true visionary, Gilcrease was ahead of his time in understanding the importance of America’s own heritage. His passion for art and history, his Native American ancestry, and his oil revenues coincided in a rare alignment. His legacy is an astounding collection of paintings, sculptures, artifacts, rare books, and documents. This lavishly produced book, featuring nearly two hundred color reproductions, tells the story of Gilcrease and of the renowned museum that bears his name. Compiled by the museum’s curators, Treasures of Gilcrease exemplifies the beauty and breadth of the museum’s resources. The fine art collection alone boasts more than 10,000 American works, ranging in styles from classical to romantic to impressionist and by such master artists as George Catlin, Charles M. Russell, Thomas Moran, and Frederic Remington. The works by Native artists also span styles ranging from painted hides to twentieth-century flat-style. The artifacts—300,000-plus pieces housed in the galleries and vaults—include ceramics, clothing, pipes, and objects of utility, ceremony, and ornamentation. The archives collection contains some 100,000 manuscripts, books, photographs, maps, imprints, and broadsides. Treasures of Gilcrease offers a vivid and engaging tour through these collections in the company of the experts who know them best.

本書は単なる美術館の目録ではなく、開拓者トーマス・ギルクリースが自らのルーツである先住民の誇りと富を捧げ、失われゆくアメリカの魂を繋ぎ止めた壮大な叙事詩です。古典から印象派、さらには日常の儀礼品までを網羅した膨大なコレクションは、歴史の荒野を彷徨う旅人にとっての聖域であり、文明が交錯する瞬間の輝きを静かに、しかし情熱的に物語っています。 学芸員たちの深い洞察は、芸術が持つ記録と祈りの側面を浮き彫りにします。ページを捲るたびに、フロンティアの熱気とそこに生きる人々の息遣いが鮮明に蘇るでしょう。一人の個人の情熱がいかにしてい国の遺産となり、未来を照らす光へと昇華されたかを証明する、美しくも重厚な歴史の証言です。