John F. Delaplaine
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1810
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1810
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a portrait of John F. Delaplaine from the shoulders up. He wears a dark coat over a white shirt, his face calm and serious. The background is plain, so all focus lands on him. Mezzotint is a tricky printmaking method. It uses a metal plate and a rocker tool to create soft, velvety shadows. This print shows those deep tones well, making Delaplaine’s face glow softly against the dark background. Look up Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
