Artwork
Thomas Truxtun
Thomas Truxtun is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a black-and-white print created by Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St. Memin Philadela.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Th. Truxton.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black-and-white print created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, employing mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned sheet. It portrays Thomas Truxtun, who held the rank of Commodore in the United States Navy at the close of the eighteenth century. The image is composed against a deep, uniform background that isolates the figure.
Subject & Meaning
Thomas Truxtun is rendered with a composed, severe expression, his hair styled in the fashion of the period and his attire consisting of a dark coat and a white cravat. The formal pose and stark contrast emphasize his authority and naval command, reflecting the portrait’s purpose of presenting him as a dignified leader of the young American fleet.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin combined mezzotint’s capacity for rich tonal gradations with fine line engraving to achieve both depth and precise detailing.
Saint‑Mémin combined mezzotint’s capacity for rich tonal gradations with fine line engraving to achieve both depth and precise detailing. The print’s surface shows careful modeling of facial features and fabric folds, while the dark background is rendered in uniform tone, allowing the illuminated figure to stand out sharply. The mounting on brown wove paper adds a subtle tonal border that frames the composition.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1799, the print was likely intended for distribution among naval and political circles to commemorate Truxtun’s service. As a work by the French‑born artist who settled in America, it exemplifies early transatlantic artistic exchange. The piece has survived in museum collections and private holdings, documented in catalogues of early American portrait prints.
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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.
