Artwork
Elizabeth Selden McClurg Wickham
Elizabeth Selden McClurg Wickham is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Mrs. Wickham. wife of / Elizabeth Seldon
About this work
Her marriage to John Wickham in 1800 is a notable part of her story, and this portrait was made just a few years later.
The painting shows a portrait of Elizabeth Selden McClurg Wickham. She is depicted in a simple yet elegant setting. Her marriage to John Wickham in 1800 is a notable part of her story, and this portrait was made just a few years later.
The artist used a lot of detail to create this portrait. The subject's face and clothing are carefully rendered. This level of detail suggests the artist was skilled.
You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
Overview
This 1808 print, combining mezzotint and engraving techniques on paper, presents a portrait of Elizabeth Selden McClurg Wickham. Mounted on brown wove paper, the artwork captures her likeness in a refined setting a few years after her marriage to John Wickham in 1800.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Elizabeth Selden McClurg Wickham, is portrayed with understated elegance, reflecting her personal and marital status at the time. Her 1800 marriage to John Wickham is a contextual highlight of her depicted persona.
Technique & Style
Executed by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, the portrait showcases meticulous detail, particularly in the rendering of Elizabeth's face and attire, demonstrating the artist's skill in the mezzotint and engraving mediums.
History & Provenance
Created in 1808, the print is attributed to Saint-Mémin, with its current state mounted on brown wove paper. Specific provenance details beyond the artist and subject are not provided.
Context
This work aligns with the artistic practices of its time, emphasizing portraiture and the use of mezzotint and engraving for detailed, high-quality reproductions of likenesses among the social elite.
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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.
