The Martinos: A Legacy of Art by James McClelland

Abstract

In the introduction to The Martinos: A Legacy of Art, the author writes, "Students of the art world can name families of artists such as the Peales, the Wyeths and the Calders, but there was another Philadelphia family of artists that does not readily come to mind. yet the Martinos produced more artists than any of the aforementioned" (vii). The assertion of numbers is certainly true of the Calders, but is more questionable when applied to the Peales and the Wyeths. Coming to questions about national reputation and significance, this comparison becomes even dicier. However, we owe author McClelland a debt of thanks for compiling the first monograph devoted to what he called "this amazing family of artists [that] is very much underrated, under-appreciated, and relatively unknown" (vii).