Artwork
George Young
George Young is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: G. Young.
About this work
You can learn more about this kind of artwork by looking at the work of artist: Saint-Mémin, Charles B.
This painting is a portrait of George Young. He's dressed formally, looking straight at us. The artist used a lot of detail to show his clothes and face, which is interesting because it was made a long time ago, in 1805, and this kind of detail was hard to achieve with the tools they had back then.
You can learn more about this kind of artwork by looking at the work of artist: Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
Overview
Created in 1805, this single-figure print depicts George Young in a formal pose. Executed by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, the work combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned backing. It is presently held within the Corcoran Collection, where it is catalogued as a portrait print.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents George Young facing the viewer, his attire rendered with precise attention to the textures of fabric and the contours of his face. The direct gaze and dignified bearing suggest a conventional representation of status and personal identity typical of early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed mezzotint to achieve rich tonal gradations, while the engraved lines provide fine detail in the clothing and facial features. The combination of these intaglio processes on wove paper allowed for a nuanced rendering of light and shadow, a notable technical accomplishment for the period.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Corcoran Collection, though the exact path of acquisition is not documented in the available record. Its attribution to Saint‑Mémin, a French artist active in the United States after the Revolutionary era, links the work to the broader movement of transatlantic portrait printmaking.
Context
Produced during a time when American portraiture was increasingly mediated through prints, the work reflects the demand for accessible images of prominent individuals. Saint‑Mémin’s practice of combining mezzotint with engraving catered to collectors seeking both the depth of tonal work and the crispness of line.
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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.
