Artwork
Nicholas Cabell, Jr.
Nicholas Cabell, Jr. is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This 1808 mezzotint and engraving portrait, created by Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Wm. Cabel. / Nicholas Cabell Jr.
About this work
Overview
This 1808 mezzotint and engraving portrait, created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, depicts Nicholas Cabell, Jr. in a left-facing profile on black ink on wove paper, mounted on brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Nicholas Cabell, Jr., is characterized by a prominent nose and high forehead, emphasized through the profile view, a conventional yet effective technique of the time for highlighting facial features.
Technique & Style
The portrait combines mezzotint and engraving techniques, typical of Saint-Mémin's work, to achieve detailed, expressive line work and tonal depth in black ink.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the Corcoran Collection, indicating its historical and artistic significance within the collection's holdings.
Context
Created in 1808, the portrait reflects the early 19th-century preference for profile views in portraiture, which balanced formality with the ability to capture distinctive facial characteristics.
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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.
