Artwork
Benjamin Cocke
Benjamin Cocke is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: B. Coke. / B. Cocke
About this work
Overview
Created in 1805, this small-scale print presents a formal likeness of Benjamin Cocke. Executed in black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, the image measures just over five centimeters on each side. The work belongs to the Corcoran Collection, reflecting the period’s interest in detailed portraiture rendered through printmaking techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Benjamin Cocke in dignified attire, his expression composed and reflective. The careful rendering of facial features and clothing suggests an intention to convey the sitter’s social standing and personal gravitas, typical of early‑19th‑century portrait conventions that emphasized respectability and individual identity.
Technique & Style
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin employed a combination of mezzotint and engraving, allowing for a rich tonal range and fine line work. The artist’s skill is evident in the subtle gradations of light across the face and the precise depiction of fabric folds and hair texture, achievements especially notable given the print’s diminutive dimensions.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by Saint‑Mémin, a French artist active in the United States after the Revolution. It entered the Corcoran Collection, a major American art repository, where it has been preserved as part of the institution’s holdings of early American portrait prints.
Context
During the early 1800s, mezzotint and engraving were popular for disseminating portraits of prominent individuals. Saint‑Mémin’s work reflects this trend, providing a portable, reproducible image of a private citizen at a time when painted portraits were limited to the affluent, thereby broadening visual access to personal likenesses.
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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.
