Artwork
Étiennette-Charlotte-Adélaïde Févret de Saint-Mémin
Étiennette-Charlotte-Adélaïde Févret de Saint-Mémin is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: St. Memin delt. & sculpt. 1800.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Melle. de St. Mémin.
About this work
Overview
Étiennette-Charlotte-Adélaïde Févret de Saint-Mémin is a portrait print created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin between 1799 and 1800, utilizing mezzotint and engraving techniques on black wove paper, subsequently mounted on brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a woman, Étiennette-Charlotte-Adélaïde Févret de Saint-Mémin, shown in profile with her face partially obscured by shadow. Her attire is simple, accented by a hair ribbon, conveying a sense of understated elegance.
Technique & Style
The artist employed mezzotint to achieve deep, rich darks and luminous lights, characteristic of this challenging technique. Fine lines were used to render the subject's skin with remarkable softness and realism, evoking comparisons to the portrait style of Gilbert Stuart.
History & Provenance
The work is part of the Corcoran Collection, though specific details of its creation context or the subject's relationship to the artist (beyond sharing a surname) are not provided in available information.
Context
Created at the turn of the 19th century, this print reflects the artistic preferences of its time, blending traditional portrait techniques with the expressive depth of mezzotint, a method that was particularly popular for capturing nuanced likenesses.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of this particular work are not highlighted, it contributes to the broader appreciation of late 18th-century printmaking techniques and portrait artistry, alongside the recognized body of work by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin.
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.
