Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Medium
Engraving; third state of three
Dimensions
plate: 8 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. (22.2 x 16.5 cm) sheet: 10 15/16 x 8 5/8 in. (27.8 x 21.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924
Accession Number
24.90.249
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the striking portrait *Charles Carroll of Carrollton*1835), an engraving produced just three years after the death of its illustrious subject—one of the last surviving signers of the Declaration of. Charles Carroll, a wealthy Maryland planter and statesman, symbolized the revolutionary spirit and Catholic contributions to America's founding. Captured in this third and final state of the plate, the image draws from earlier portraits, likely involving painters Chester Harding and James Herring, with masterful engraving by Asher B. Durand, a key figure in the Hudson River School. Measuring a modest plate size of 8¾ x 6½ inches, this print exemplifies 19th-century reproductive engraving techniques, where fine lines and subtle shading conveyed texture, expression, and dignity. Durand's precise burin work highlights Carroll's resolute gaze and formal attire, making the elite portrait accessible through affordable prints for a growing American public eager to honor national heroes. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924), this artwork bridges portraiture and printmaking, preserving Carroll's legacy amid rising nationalism. A testament to how engravings democratized fame, it invites us to reflect on the faces that shaped a young republic.
About the Artist
Asher Brown Durand|James Herring|Charles Carroll|Chester (Charles) Harding · 1796–1886
Was a principal member of the Hudson River School. American artist; associated with the Hudson River School of landscape painting. Comment on works: Portraits