Lawrence Calcagno (1913-93) was a painter of the San Francisco school of Abstract Expressionism, and, as described by Gerald Nordland, a proud, self-reliant, and independent figure in post-war American art. He taught at a number of schools and universities, received many invitations for residencies and guest professorships, and had two major retrospective exhibitions in his lifetime, yet his work fell out of favour for a time. The acclaim he hoped for, and deserved, is materialising for the most part posthumously. Nordland says that his best work adds importantly to the achievements of his...