Asher Brown Durand

Born as the eighth of eleven children to a watchmaker and silversmith father, his early exposure to metalworking is believed to have influenced his later mastery of precise engraving techniques.¹

Durand initially gained fame as a master engraver. His 1823 engraving of John Trumbull's 'Declaration of Independence' established his reputation as one of the country's finest, known for his meticulous skill.¹

Around 1830, encouraged by his patron Luman Reed, Durand shifted his focus from engraving to oil painting. This transition was a key turning point that led him to become a leading Hudson River School painter.¹

In 1837, a sketching trip to the Adirondacks with his friend Thomas Cole solidified his decision to focus on landscapes. Influenced by Cole, he developed his own realistic style of landscape painting.¹

He helped organize the National Academy of Design in 1825 and served as its president for 16 years starting in 1845. He led the American art world, contributing to the development of the organization.¹

His engraving skills were utilized for the first U.S. postage stamps. The portraits on the 1847 series were based on engravings Durand had created for banknotes, marking a significant national contribution.¹

His masterpiece 'Kindred Spirits' was painted as a tribute to his late friend Thomas Cole. In 2005, it sold for approximately $35 million, a record price for an American painting at the time.¹

His 1853 work 'Progress' depicts the advancement of civilization, including railroads and telegraphs, within a grand landscape. In 2018, it was purchased for about $40 million and donated to a museum.¹

He spread his art theories through 'Letters on Landscape Painting' in the periodical The Crayon. This had a profound influence on American landscape painters and became a theoretical pillar of the Hudson River School.¹