born Aug. 21, 1796, Jefferson Village, N.J., U.S.
died Sept. 17, 1886, Jefferson Village
U.S. painter, engraver, and illustrator.
He had established his reputation as an engraver by 1823 with his print of Declaration of Independence and his portraits of prominent contemporary Americans. He later devoted himself to landscape painting, becoming a founder of the {{link=Hudson River school">Hudson River school and one of the earliest U.S. artists to work directly from nature. In 1826 he cofounded the National Academy of Design in New York City and served as its president (1845–61).