Artwork
Colonel Boyd
Colonel Boyd 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, this print by Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St. Memin Philada.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Colonel Boyd. / John P.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1802, this print by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown backing. The portrait presents a British Army colonel in full dress, rendered in monochrome with careful attention to texture and form.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is identified as a colonel of the British Army, shown in the formal uniform of the early nineteenth century. His composed expression and upright posture convey the professional dignity expected of an officer during the Napoleonic era, offering a visual record of contemporary military dress.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed mezzotint to achieve rich tonal gradations, while the engraved lines provide crisp definition of the uniform’s intricate details. The contrast between the deep blacks of the mezzotint and the fine linear work highlights the fabric’s folds and metallic accoutrements, illustrating the artist’s skill in rendering texture within a single‑color medium.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the Corcoran Collection, an assemblage of American art holdings that has been incorporated into the National Gallery of Art. Its inclusion reflects the collection’s interest in portraiture that documents transatlantic military figures of the early 1800s.
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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.
