Missing Restoration Art

[Tom]

I recently came across a new book, titled Repicturing the Restoration, by Anthony Sweat. According to the book description:

While existing artwork that portrays the Restoration is rich and beautiful, until now many key events in Latter-day Saint history have surprisingly never been depicted to accurately represent important events of the historical record. The purpose of this volume is to produce paintings of some of the underrepresented events in order to expand our understanding of the Restoration. Each image includes a richly researched historical background, some artistic insights into the painting’s composition, an application section providing one way this history may inform our present faith, and an analysis section offering potent questions that can be considered for further discussion. Through these new paintings, artist, author, and Professor Anthony Sweat takes readers through a timeline history of pivotal events and revelations of the early Restoration. This book is not just a wonderful art book, it is also a pedagogical book using art as a launching pad to learn, evaluate, apply, and discuss important aspects of Latter-day Saint history and doctrine as readers repicture the Restoration.

After looking through the Table of Contents, I noticed that more than a few depictions seem to be missing. They include Joseph smashing a ruffian in the head with the gold plates (okay, that never happened), Martin Harris strolling with Deer Jesus, the Ghost Committee translating the Book of Mormon, Fanny and Joseph in the barn, Joseph throwing the camp bugle at Sylvester Smith, and Joseph vomiting after drinking coffee poisoned by Emma.

[Philo Sofee]

Some truths are not very picturable.......

[Moksha]

... until now many key events in Latter-day Saint history have surprisingly never been depicted to accurately represent important events of the historical record.

Fanny and Joseph in the barn, ...

The hard part of depicting Fanny and Joseph in the barn would be to include their discovery by Emma rounding one corner, while Sidney and Oliver discovered them from the other entrance. Would this need to be drawn from an overhead barn rafter perspective? Could this have a Jon McNaughton-like quality of Moses smashing the 10 Commandments in the background and perhaps Donald Trump cheering the amorous couple?

[Tom]

... until now many key events in Latter-day Saint history have surprisingly never been depicted to accurately represent important events of the historical record.

Fanny and Joseph in the barn, ...

The hard part of depicting Fanny and Joseph in the barn would be to include their discovery by Emma rounding one corner, while Sidney and Oliver discovered them from the other entrance. Would this need to be drawn from an overhead barn rafter perspective? Could this have a Jon McNaughton-like quality of Moses smashing the 10 Commandments in the background and perhaps Donald Trump cheering the amorous couple?

The possibilities are endless. The rough model that comes to mind right now is Grant Wood’s Parson Weems’ Fable. Emma is holding open the barn door on the right and peering in while Sidney and Oliver are are watching next to the open barn door on the left.