The Bone Player, William Sidney Mount (American, 1807–1868) Oil on canvas, 1856

His smile stretches wide to hide          a familiar, hollowed-out pain,minstrelled, ready to play          on command.How differently he’s portrayed          from others in his day—butternut brown, a burnished glow          lights his torso.Gold vest and grey frock coat,          pre-Civil War, dapper.In this version of the story:          he’s not as...

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