Artwork
Samuel Morris
Samuel Morris is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This black-and-white print, executed in mezzotint and engraving, presents a profile portrait of Samuel Morris. The image is mounted on brown wove paper and measures the typical size for late‑18th‑century portrait prints. The sitter is shown in a dignified pose, looking to the right, with his hair styled in the elaborate curls fashionable at the time.
Subject & Meaning
Samuel Morris is rendered with a sober expression, emphasizing his social standing and personal gravitas. The portrait’s formal composition, with the figure isolated against a plain background, reflects the conventions of portraiture intended to convey the subject’s identity and status rather than narrative content.
Technique & Style
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin in 1798, the work combines mezzotint’s rich tonal gradations with the fine line work of engraving. This hybrid approach allows for subtle shading in the face and precise rendering of the hair and clothing, achieving a high level of texture and detail uncommon in purely line‑based prints.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the United States during Saint‑Mémin’s American tour, a period when he documented prominent figures of the new republic. It entered private collections in the early 19th century before being acquired by a museum, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings on early American portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
