Artwork
James Edwards
James Edwards is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1809 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: James Edwards.
About this work
Overview
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑MÉmin’s portrait of James Edwards is a small, black‑and‑white print that presents the sitter in right‑profile against an unadorned backdrop. Executed on wove paper and later mounted to a brown‑toned sheet, the work combines mezzotint and engraving to render the figure’s crisp coat and cravat with subtle tonal variation. The piece belongs to the Corcoran Collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts James Edwards, a London bookseller known for supplying American collectors with art publications and literary works. By portraying Edwards in a dignified profile, the artist emphasizes his professional stature and the transatlantic cultural exchange that his business facilitated during the early nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Saint‑MÉmin employed the mezzotint process, roughening a copper plate to hold ink and then smoothing areas to create gradations of light and shadow, complemented by fine engraving lines for detail. This combination yields a velvety tonal depth that captures the texture of fabric and the play of illumination on the sitter’s features, a hallmark of early‑1800s portrait prints.
History & Provenance
Printed in the early nineteenth century, the portrait reflects the period’s American fascination with finely rendered mezzotints, which were prized for their delicate shading. The work entered the Corcoran Collection, where it remains a documented example of transatlantic print culture and the commercial networks linking London booksellers with United States patrons.
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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.
