Accounts—"Life School" (from Sketchbook) 1796 - 1886

This is a page from a sketchbook by Asher Brown Durand. It lists names and financial accounts and is inscribed with the words "Life School." Durand was a leading figure in the Hudson River School, a mid-19th century American art movement that emphasized landscape painting. This page offers a glimpse into the economic realities that shaped artistic production at the time. The "Life School" was a class where artists studied the human form, essential for history painting and portraiture. The list of names, including Durand's own, suggests a cooperative venture where artists pooled resources to hire models and share studio space. The mention of "$10 paid" by Mr. Dick gives a sense of the costs involved. The existence of such schools reflects the growing professionalization of art in America, as artists sought formal training and new institutional structures to support their work. Records like this provide valuable insights for art historians, shedding light on the social networks and economic conditions that enabled the creation of art. By studying these details, we can better understand the complex relationship between art and society in 19th-century America.