Banknote motif with a girl's head derived from Leonardo da Vinci against a patterned band

Art Historical Context

This delicate engraving proof, titled *Banknote motif with a girl's head derived from Leonardo da Vinci against a patterned band*, showcases the precision of early American printmaking. Created around 1824–37 by Asher Brown Durand and collaborators—including his brother Cyrus Durand and firms like A. B. & C. Durand & Company and Durand, Perkins, and Company—it measures just 3¼ × 1¼ inches, perfect for currency design. The central motif adapts a girl's head from Leonardo da Vinci's Renaissance studies, framed by an intricate patterned band, blending Old Master inspiration with practical innovation. In the early 19th century, as U.S. banking expanded, skilled engravers like the Durands pioneered anti-counterfeiting techniques through fine-line engraving and etching. Their geometric patterns and detailed portraits made notes harder to forge, revolutionizing American currency production. Asher Durand, later a Hudson River School painter, honed his craft here, bridging commercial art and fine printmaking. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Joseph Veach Noble, 2002), this proof offers a glimpse into an era when art secured commerce. Its nod to da Vinci underscores the enduring allure of classical beauty in everyday security features.

About the Artist

Asher Brown Durand|A. B. & C. Durand & Company|Durand, Perkins, and Company|Cyrus Durand|Leonardo da Vinci · 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