Francis Hollingsworth
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1804
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1804
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This small portrait shows a man’s face in profile, lit softly against a plain background. His coat and cravat are detailed, but the artist used rough lines to shape shadows. The odd shape makes it feel like a tiny slice of a bigger scene. Mezzotint is a tricky technique. The artist carved a metal plate, then inked it to print this print. You can see the lines where the plate wore down over time. Check out other engravings by Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
