Artwork
Joseph C. Lewis II
Joseph C. Lewis II is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Joseph C.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Jos. Lewis.
About this work
Overview
Joseph C. Lewis II is a small portrait print, measuring 5.56 × 5.56 cm, created in 1805 using mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a man dressed in a dark coat set against a plain background, with his face illuminated by a side light, casting soft shadows.
Technique & Style
The artist employed fine lines to carve details into the copper plate, showcasing the mezzotint process's capacity for nuanced gray shades through selective roughening and smoothing of the plate.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the Corcoran Collection and is currently housed at the National Gallery of Art.
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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.
