Sailboat and Fourth of July Fireworks

The third growth spurt of the American Society of Painters in Water Colors, like the first two, was launched by an especially large and stimulating exhibition that drew yet more attention from the press and a wave of new talent...

We know as much about the time Winslow Homer spent in England as we do about any portion of his life, which is to say not very much (see figure 1). He never spoke about the trip to the press, and any letters describing what he saw or did there have apparently vanished. Nevertheless, this episode is particularly intriguing because it marks a turning point in his work and career, changing his art in important ways and also preparing him to change his own life, for soon after he returned to …