Artwork
David Caldwell
David Caldwell 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.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St. Memin Philadela.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: D. Caldwell.
About this work
Overview
The work is a portrait of David Caldwell executed in 1798 by the French artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin. Rendered as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the image appears on a sheet of wove paper that has been adhered to a brown‑toned backing. The composition presents Caldwell in a direct, solemn gaze, framed by a detailed, ornamental backdrop.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed the mezzotint process to achieve rich tonal gradations, while the engraving adds precise linear definition. The use of wove paper, both for the print surface and its brown mounting, contributes a smooth, uniform texture that enhances the subtle shading. Fine incisions delineate the folds of Caldwell’s attire, demonstrating the artist’s skill in rendering fabric and light.
Subject & Meaning
David Caldwell is depicted in contemporary dress, his expression serious and his posture upright, suggesting a dignified status. The careful rendering of his clothing and the elaborate background convey the conventions of late‑eighteenth‑century portraiture, where attire and setting functioned as indicators of personal identity and social standing.
History & Provenance
Created in the final decade of the 18th century, the portrait forms part of the Saint‑Mémin Collection of Portraits, a series of likenesses produced by the artist during his American travels. The piece has remained within this collection, preserving its original mounting and paper format, and continues to serve as a documented example of Saint‑Mémin’s transatlantic portrait work.
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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.
