Artwork
Joseph E. G. M. de la Grange
Joseph E. G. M. de la Grange 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. Created in 1799, this small mezzotint and engraving presents a portrait of Joseph E.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St Memin Philadela.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: de Lagrange.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1799, this small mezzotint and engraving presents a portrait of Joseph E. G. M. de la Grange. The image measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side and is mounted on brown wove paper, forming part of the Corcoran Collection.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses exclusively on the eponymous sitter, rendering him as the central figure without surrounding narrative elements. The portrait’s intimate scale suggests a personal or commemorative purpose, typical of late‑eighteenth‑century portrait prints.
Technique & Style
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin employed both mezzotint and engraving methods on a metal plate. The mezzotint process provided rich tonal gradations, while the engraved lines added precise detail, allowing the artist to achieve a high level of definition within the miniature format.
History & Provenance
The print has remained within institutional holdings, currently catalogued in the Corcoran Collection. Its attribution to Saint‑Mémin, a noted French‑American printmaker, aligns with his known output of portraiture during the post‑Revolutionary period.
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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.
