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gradually has disappeared under the growing force and expression of Durand, and in this and other prints his firm and harmonious lines and lifelike character are clearly visible.

During this apprenticeship the principal employment was the copying of English engravings of a small size for the publishers, or the fanciful headings of cards and invitations, a fashion which had employed the talents of Bartolozzi in England, as engraver, and of Cipriani, Stothard, Westall, and others in designs. When this apprenticeship expired at Durand's twenty-first year, Maverick showed his good sense in securing his pupil's skill by making him a partner in the business. The style of the firm was Maverick & Durand, and much of the engraving bearing that imprint is the exclusive work of Durand. This partnership continued for about five years.

It has been said that engraving was at that time almost the only artistic pursuit in this country which could furnish a reasonable support. This is a mistake.

Trumbull was busy with his battle-pieces, and often painted portraits. Vanderlyn had painted the portraits which enlisted Aaron Burr in his favor. Waldo was then a student, beginning to practise portraiture, and eking out a scanty purse by painting signs for hatters, butchers, and tapsters. Some of those pictures 



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of beaver hats with their beautiful gloss, or ribs of beef and fat chickens, or foaming mugs of ale in the hands of jolly topers, which were swinging in the wind in our boyish days, were the handicraft of Waldo, as he himself told the writer ; and, in after days, as he glanced at them, cracked and sobered by sun and rain, he was mortified, he said, to think that he had improved so little in the lapse of years. Jarvis, too, was starting on that series of the heroes of the war of 1812, some of which Durand afterwards engraved, and which now adorn the Governor's room at the City Hall. It was the incident of the copper plate hammered out from a cent, and the engraving on it for a watch-case, that turned the course of Durand in that direction, instead of painting, and we may be grateful, for it was not only an excellent discipline for him, but has given us an invaluable series of prints, which must be more and more treasured as time goes on. 

Portrait engraving, nevertheless, was the main stay of engravers. Durand's accurate drawing, which he was constantly improving by careful study in the evenings at home, enabled him to preserve the likeness, as well as to execute his plates with that clearness and precision of line and freedom of handling which characterized all he touched.