Artwork
Lewis Salles
Lewis Salles is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1801, this intimate portrait print measures just under six centimeters on each side.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St. Memin Philada.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Lewis Salles.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1801, this intimate portrait print measures just under six centimeters on each side. Executed by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, it combines mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown backing. The work is catalogued within the Corcoran Collection and depicts a single male sitter in a restrained pose.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a gentleman shown from the shoulders up, turned toward the left. He wears a high‑collared coat and his hair is pulled back, suggesting a formal, possibly aristocratic, presentation. The composition focuses on the sitter’s facial expression and attire, conveying a sense of dignity typical of early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.
Technique & Style
Févret de Saint‑Mémin employed mezzotint to achieve smooth tonal transitions across the skin, while the engraving layer supplies precise line work for the coat and facial features. Fine cross‑hatching and stippled dots render subtle shading, a hallmark of the artist’s method, allowing the print to balance softness with crisp detail despite its diminutive scale.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Corcoran Collection, a notable repository of American and European works, where it remains documented. Its creation date of 1801 places it in the artist’s productive period following his exile from France, during which he produced numerous portrait prints for a transatlantic clientele.
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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.
