Artwork
Robert F. How
Robert F. How is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This small print is a portrait of Robert F.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Rt. F. How.
About this work
Overview
This small print is a portrait of Robert F. How, created using mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper. It measures 5.56 cm square and is mounted on brown wove paper.
Technique & Style
The print is a mezzotint, a labor-intensive process involving scraping metal plates to achieve smooth shadows and dark tones, characteristic of the technique's popularity for portraits in the early 19th century.
History & Provenance
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1806, it is one of his last works before returning to France. The print is part of the Corcoran Collection.
Context
Mezzotints were a favored medium for portraiture during this period, and Saint-Mémin's work exemplifies the technique's capacity for capturing subtle facial expressions in soft, dark tones.
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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.
