Artwork
George Washington Parke Custis
George Washington Parke Custis 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: Washn. Custis. / G. W. Parke Custis
About this work
Overview
This small print depicts George Washington Parke Custis in profile. Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1801, it measures 5.56 × 5.56 cm and is executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows Custis wearing formal early 19th-century attire, with curly hair and a prominent nose. The level of detail achieved in the small format is notable, suggesting a careful and skilled rendering of the subject.
Technique & Style
The print combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper, mounted to a brown wove paper backing. The use of these techniques allowed for a high level of detail, demonstrating the artist's technical proficiency.
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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.
