Robert C. Sands
Asher Brown Durand|Robert Walter Weir|Robert C. Sands, ca. 1829
About this artwork
This steel engraving, titled *Robert C. Sands* dated around 1829, captures the likeness of Robert C. Sands, a prominent New York poet, playwright, and editor the early 19th. Created collaboratively by esteemed American artists Asher B. Durand and Robert Walter—with Sands himself credited among the makers—it exemplifies the era's fascination with intimate portraits of cultural figures. Measuring just 8 7/8 x 5 13/16 inches on the plate, this intimate print invites viewers to appreciate the subject's thoughtful gaze and refined features, reflecting the intellectual vibrancy of antebellum America. As a second state of two, this work highlights the meticulous process of 19th-century printmaking. Steel engraving, a relatively new technique by the 1820s, allowed for sharper lines, finer details, and larger print runs compared to traditional copper plates, making portraits like this more accessible to a growing middle class. Durand, renowned for his precision in early reproductive prints, and Weir, a skilled portraitist, together produced a technically sophisticated image that bridged painting and print traditions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Mrs. Frederic F. Durand, 1930), this piece offers a window into the collaborative spirit of American Romanticism, celebrating Sands's literary legacy through enduring visual artistry.