Artwork
James Giles
James Giles 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 Philada.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Colonel Giles. / James
About this work
Overview
James Giles is a portrait print rendered in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper. The subject, Colonel James Giles, is depicted in a formal military profile.
Subject & Meaning
The print focuses on Colonel James Giles in a meticulous, detailed military uniform and hat, conveying his rank and reflecting the attire of his time, offering insights into his role and the period.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint and engraving, the print showcases a high level of craftsmanship, characteristic of the fine-line precision achievable with these techniques, attributed to the style of Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin.
History & Provenance
Originally a portrait by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, this print version's history is not extensively detailed here, but its basis in Saint-Mémin's work situates it within early 19th-century portrait practices.
Context
Understanding the print benefits from referencing Saint-Mémin's broader oeuvre, known for meticulous, detailed portraits that capture the nuances of military and societal figures of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of this print are not provided, works by Saint-Mémin and similar mezzotint portraits contribute to the historical record of military personnel and the evolution of portrait printing techniques.
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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.
