THE ART OF THE BOOKPLATE Rockwell Kent Gallery May 3 - December 20, 2003 "The art of the bookplate is an art of identity, born out of necessity soon after Johannes Gutenberg converted a wine press into a printing press and thieves took up 'book borrowing'." Since that time artists such as Albrecht Dürer, William Hogarth, Paul Revere, M. C. Escher Marc Chagall and Rockwell Kent designed bookplates. Don Roberts points out in his recent publication: Rockwell Kent the Art of the Bookplate, "The nature of a bookplate precludes glory for the artist. It is, after all, only an artistic slip of paper that serves its purpose by disappearing, sometimes forever, between the covers of a book. The art of the bookplate is an art of obscurity."
Plattsburgh State Art Museum is shedding some light on the Art of the Bookplate in an exhibition that opens on May 3 in the Rockwell Kent Gallery. Over 75 bookplates that were designed for family, friends and clients including Joe Kennedy, Margaret & Ralph Pulitzer and The Library of Congress will be on exhibition. Inspired by his writings, travels and the personality of the owner the plates are superb works of art. The exhibition will remain on view until December 20, 2003.
The Bookplates in this Exhibition About Rockwell Kent Bookplates Link to: Rockwell Kent the Art of the Bookplate, By Don Roberts

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