Felix Constant de Boisgerard
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1809
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1809
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a man’s face in profile, dark coat glowing against a plain background. His calm look and sharp nose grab your eye. The artist used cross-hatching to create smooth shadows and soft edges—a trick of the engraving trade. Mezzotint was popular for portraits in the early 1800s. It let artists print rich, velvety tones from metal plates. Saint-Mémin made over 300 of these prints in his lifetime. The lines feel almost hand-drawn. If you like this style, check out Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
