Robert Shetterly -- Tell the Truth portraits

The portraits are collected in a book published in June, 2005.

Excerpted from the Artist''s statement (http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/pgs/artist_statement.html):

I began painting this series of portraits --- finding great Americans who spoke the truth and combining their images with their words --- nearly three years ago as a way of to channel my anger and grief. In the process my respect and love for these people and their courage helped to transform that anger into hope and pride and allowed me to draw strength from this community of truth tellers, finding in them the courage, honesty, tolerance, generosity, wisdom and compassion that have made our country strong. One lesson that can be learned from all of these Americans is that the greatness of our country frequently depends not on the letter of the law, but the insistence of a single person that we adhere to the spirit of the law.

Below from http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/pgs/reviews.html:

STARRED REVIEW: KIRKUS
Publication: Kirkus Reviews May 15th issue

In tribute to this country''s proud tradition of protest, fine artist Shetterly has chosen 50 Americans who have stood up for what he calls "the promise of America," presenting them in a series of accurately painted head-and-shoulder portraits with their names and a pithy quote scratched in. His selections, equally divided between men and women, range from such usual suspects as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to the less-familiar likes of child peace activist Samantha Smith, political columnist Molly Ivins, authors Frances Moore Lappe (Diet for a Small Planet) and Jonathan Kozol, plus controversial figures such as Emma Goldman and Dwight Eisenhower, the telling quotes are reprinted in the margins to make them more legible. Opening with an eloquent general statement of purpose, and closing with biographical comments on each entry, this gallery of writers, politicians, rabble-rousers, troublemakers, scientists, celebrities and activists will have a stirring cumulative effect, even on children unacquainted with many of their causes or accomplishments.