Artwork
Arabella Duncan Ludlow
Arabella Duncan Ludlow is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St. Memin Philadela.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Danl. / Mrs. Ludlow.
About this work
Overview
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin’s portrait of Arabella Duncan Ludlow is a black‑and‑white print that combines mezzotint and engraving. Executed on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned backing, the image presents the sitter in a strict profile against an unadorned background, emphasizing the delicacy of her features and the texture of her attire.
Technique & Style
The work merges two printmaking processes: mezzotint, which creates rich tonal gradations by roughening a copper plate and then smoothing areas to produce light, and engraving, where fine lines are incised with a burin. This hybrid approach allows Saint‑Mémin to render subtle shadows on the face while maintaining crisp detailing in the hair and clothing, characteristic of late‑18th‑century portrait prints.
Subject & Meaning
Arabella Duncan Ludlow is depicted in a dignified, turned‑away pose, her attire reflecting contemporary fashion of the period. The plain backdrop isolates her visage, directing attention to her expression and the intricacy of her dress, suggesting a focus on personal identity and social standing rather than narrative context.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the Corcoran Collection, a repository known for its holdings of American and European graphic arts. Its acquisition date is not recorded in the provided facts, but its presence in the collection indicates recognition of Saint‑Mémin’s role in transatlantic portraiture during the early 1800s.
Context
Saint‑Mémin, a French émigré active in the United States after the Revolution, frequently employed mezzotint and engraving to produce affordable likenesses for a burgeoning American elite. This portrait aligns with that practice, offering a refined yet reproducible image of a woman of status, illustrating the cross‑cultural exchange of artistic techniques in the early Republic.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
