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Asher Brown DurandAmerican artist, graphic artist and illustrator.
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Ashur B. Durand: Prominent American Artist and Educator
- Career as an Engraver and Illustrator
- Transition to Landscape Painting
- Influence of the Hudson River School
- Recognition and Legacy
Ashur B. Durand: Prominent American Artist and Educator
Early Life and EducationAshur Brown Durand was born into a family of artisans in Jefferson, New Jersey, in 1796. The eighth of eleven children, he was the younger brother of engraver Cyrus Durand and jeweler-engraver John Durand. In his early years, he apprenticed as a watchmaker and silversmith.
Career as an Engraver and Illustrator
From 1812 to 1817, Durand studied engraving. In 1823, his engraving of John Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence" established him as one of the foremost engravers in the United States. He co-founded the National Academy of Design in 1825 and served as its president from 1845 to 1861.
Transition to Landscape Painting
While initially drawn to engraving, Durand gradually shifted towards oil painting around 1830. His 1837 trip to the Adirondack Mountains with fellow artist Thomas Cole sparked his passion for landscape painting.
Influence of the Hudson River School
Durand traveled extensively to the Adirondacks, Catskills, and White Mountains of New Hampshire, where he made countless pencil and oil sketches. These works became foundational to the Hudson River School, a movement characterized by its depiction of the American wilderness as a source of inspiration and spiritual renewal.
Recognition and Legacy
Durand's painting "Kindred Spirits" (1849), a tribute to the recently deceased Thomas Cole, sold at auction for approximately $35 million in 2005. The Brooklyn Museum hosted a retrospective of his work in 2007, highlighting over 60 of his most celebrated canvases.
Throughout his career, Durand advocated for the education of young artists and the promotion of American art. He remains an influential figure in American art history, known for his luminous landscapes and his role in shaping the Hudson River School.
