Asher B. Durand (1796-1886). American engraver and painter, b. Jefferson Village, N.J. Established reputation with The Signing of the Declaration of Independence, after Trumbull (1823); engraved portraits, gift book illustrations, banknotes. A founder of National Academy of Design (1826); president (1845-61). In 1836 he turned to painting, at first chiefly of portraits and figure pieces; later, turned to landscape painting, drawing inspiration from scenery of Hudson River Valley and New England; regarded as a founder (with Thomas Cole) of Hudson River school of landscape. Original circa 1834 engraving by A.B. Durand of the famed American jurist James Kent, b. near Brewster, N.Y., July 31, 1763, d. Dec. 12, 1847, was a U.S. jurist whose Commentaries on American Law (4 vols., 1826-30) made him known as "the American Blackstone." After graduating from Yale University, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1785. He practiced law in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and then taught law at Columbia College, New York City, from 1794 to 1798. In 1798 he was appointed to the New York Supreme Court, becoming chief judge in 1804. In 1814 he was made chancellor of the New York Court of Chancery, where his opinions contributed to development of the law of equity in the United States. His Commentaries were published in five editions during his lifetime. Image approx. 4.5 x 3.5 plus margins.

Image & surrounding area is in very clean condition.