Artwork
James Dewar Simons
James Dewar Simons is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1809 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
James Dewar Simons is a small portrait print from 1809, measuring 5.56 × 5.4 cm, executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man’s head and shoulders in profile, facing right, with subtle lighting effects that illuminate the subject’s face against a dark background.
Technique & Style
Characterized by fine cross-hatching, the work utilizes mezzotint’s capacity for soft shadows and smooth gray gradations, exemplifying the meticulous technique associated with Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin.
History & Provenance
The portrait is part of the Corcoran Collection, attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, with visible signs of the paper’s uneven edges.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
