Artwork
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis 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.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Menwether [sic] Lewis.
About this work
Overview
This portrait print depicts Meriwether Lewis in profile, shown from the shoulders up. Created by Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin, a French artist working in the United States.
Technique & Style
The portrait was produced using a combination of mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper. Mezzotint involves roughening a metal plate to create dark areas, then scraping away to achieve lighter tones, a labor-intensive process requiring great skill.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Meriwether Lewis, is presented in a formal, head-and-shoulders portrait. The profile view emphasizes his facial features and suggests a sense of dignity and importance.
Own this work as a print
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.
