Sketchbook of Landscape and Figure Subjects
1796–1886
Medium
Drawings in graphite on off-white wove paper, bound in a green cardboard cover
Dimensions
4 9/16 x 6 3/4 in. (11.6 x 17.1 cm)
Classification
Sketchbook
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Frederic F. Durand, 1933
Accession Number
33.176
Art Historical Context
Asher B. Durand (1796–1886), a foundational figure in the Hudson River School of American landscape, created this intimate *Sketchbook of Landscape and Figure Subjects* as a personal repository of ideas and observations. Active during a pivotal era when American artists sought to capture the sublime beauty of their nation's wilderness, Durand's sketches reflect his lifelong dedication to nature study. Born in New Jersey, he transitioned from engraving to painting, co-founding the National Academy of Design and championing realistic depictions of the Hudson Valley and beyond. This sketchbook, g...
About the Artist
Asher Brown Durand · 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