It is an era known for its vigorous capitalism, showy wealth and shallow materialism of the ruling class. A large, poor working class supported the incredible fortunes of men like Andrew Carnegie, and corruption was rampant. Still, much of the art produced during the era was truly gold. The 'Gilded Age' connotes a refined, elegant aesthetic of art. Painters of the era concentrated on producing elegant lines, color and composition in their work, Young said.
Artists often strove to make their paintings more appealing than reality.
During this time, American sculptors mastered the art of bronze casting. The exhibition will feature 12 bronze sculptures, including Daniel Chester French's Concord Minute Man of 1774 and Augustus Saint-Gaudens's Diana . One of the things that the exhibition offers the viewer is an immense range of approaches and styles. We have paintings that are close to photographic in their clarity and paintings that are very atmospheric. Subjects are drawn from the real and natural world, as well as some literary, religious, classical and mythological sources.