Picturing the Shakers in the era of manifestations

"This collection assembles for the first time the rich body of visual images depicting the Shakers during the Era of Manifestations. This tumultuous time of spiritual revival within Shaker communities brought Believers into contact with visitors from the spirit world who taught them new songs, dances and rituals, as well as prescribing new codes of conduct. Events during the Era of Manifestations also caused many to lose the faith and leave Shaker Communities. Some of these apostates took the songs and dances they learned among Believers and traversed the country giving performances. Book illustrations picturing true Shaker worship and sensational engravings on commercial handbills depicted Shakers and former Shakers in a variety of contexts, and many images appeared in multiple variations. They are presented here accompanied by an essay contextualizing the Shakers, the apostates, and the worldly artists and promoters who pictured the Shakers for the American public."--Back cover.