Artwork
Charles Stewart
Charles Stewart is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1802 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1802 by the French engraver Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St. Memin Philada.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Lt. Chs. Stewart.
About this work
Overview
The image measures just over five and a half centimeters in both height and width, emphasizing the artist’s capacity for fine detail within a miniature scale.
Created in 1802 by the French engraver Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, this intimate portrait depicts Charles Stewart in a tightly focused, head‑and‑shoulders format. The image measures just over five and a half centimeters in both height and width, emphasizing the artist’s capacity for fine detail within a miniature scale. It belongs to the Saint‑Mémin Collection of Portraits, a grouping of his likenesses rendered in print.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents Charles Stewart, a figure whose identity is recorded solely through this visual record. The close‑up treatment isolates his facial features, allowing viewers to examine his expression and attire without contextual background, a common approach in early‑19th‑century portraiture intended to convey personal presence rather than narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed as a mezzotint and engraving in black ink, the image was printed on wove paper and later mounted onto a brown‑toned wove support. The mezzotint process, known for its rich tonal gradations, combined with the line work of engraving, yields a nuanced surface that captures subtle shading and fine lines despite the work’s diminutive size.
History & Provenance
Since its production, the print has remained within the Saint‑Mémin Collection of Portraits, a curated assemblage of the artist’s portraiture. Its preservation on mounted paper suggests careful handling over two centuries, allowing contemporary audiences to observe the piece in a condition close to its original presentation.
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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.
