Artwork
John Goddard
John Goddard is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1804 by Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: John Forbes.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1804 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, this intimate print measures just under six centimeters on each side. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving in black ink, the image is mounted on a brown wove paper backing, forming a compact, two‑tone work that belongs to the Corcoran Collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a solitary male figure in profile, showing head and shoulders. He is dressed in a dark coat over a white shirt, set against an unadorned background that isolates the sitter and emphasizes his facial features without narrative distraction.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed a dense cross‑hatching method, layering fine parallel lines to generate tonal variation. This approach creates a gradual transition from deep shadows to lighter areas, giving the portrait a softly modeled, three‑dimensional quality despite the limited palette.
History & Provenance
The print, titled "John Goddard," entered the Corcoran Collection at an unspecified date and has remained there as a representative example of early nineteenth‑century French printmaking. Its modest dimensions and technical execution reflect the artist’s practice of producing portable portrait prints for private circulation.
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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.
