Reading the Scriptures - Public domain portrait painting

Wood began his career as a portraitist, but shortly after moving to Tennessee in 1860, he began to specialize in paintings depicting the life of African Americans. Wood addresses here the theme of dawning literacy among newly emancipated former slaves. Via the reference to the Bible in the title, the artist associates the educational achievement with Christian virtue. Wood served as president of the American Society of Painters in Water Colors from 1878 to 1887.
Thomas Waterman Wood (American, Montpelier, Vermont 1823–1903 New York)