Observing that depictions of the Big Sky country of the northen Rocky Mountain West seem to have been co-opted by writers, Flores (history, U. of Montana, Missoula) addresses why the visual artistic history of the northern Rockies is relatively unknown compared with that of California or the Southwest. To remedy this situation, 25 essays showcase imagery relating to the Old/New West as visualized by Native Americans, Lewis and Clark, George Catlin, Karl Bodner, Alfred Jacob Miller, Audubon, Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, among other well- and lesser-known artists. Photographers whose works are featured include L. A. Huffman, William Henry Jackson, Edward S. Curtis, and Richard Throssel (of Indian heritage). The 10 x 10 " volume includes a bibliography. Every collection of western art must have this splendid characterization of a romantic land. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)