Artwork
George Thompson
George Thompson is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St Memin Philadelphia; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Geo. Thompson.
About this work
Overview
George Thompson is a portrait print created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1799, utilizing mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper, later mounted to brown wove paper. The piece measures 5.56 × 5.56 cm and is housed within the Corcoran Collection.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man’s head in profile, rendered with meticulous attention to detail through fine lines that achieve a three-dimensional effect on the subject’s face and hair.
Technique & Style
Saint-Mémin employed mezzotint and engraving to craft the portrait. The mezzotint technique allowed for subtle shading, while engraving added precise line work, characteristic of the artist’s approach to capturing likenesses.
History & Provenance
Created in 1799, the print is part of the Corcoran Collection. The slight yellowing of the paper reflects its age, yet the image remains remarkably sharp despite the inherent wear of hand-printed plates over time.
Context
As a hand-printed work, each impression of this engraving would have been unique due to the gradual degradation of the printing plate. This piece exemplifies Saint-Mémin’s prolific output of portraits in this medium.
Legacy
George Thompson represents one of many portraits by Saint-Mémin, who was known for his skill in capturing detailed likenesses through mezzotint and engraving, inviting comparison with his other works for a broader understanding of his artistic contributions.
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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.
