Artwork
Unidentified Man
Unidentified Man is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This small, circular print presents a male figure in profile, showing his head and upper torso.
About this work
Overview
This small, circular print presents a male figure in profile, showing his head and upper torso. Rendered in black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, the image is mounted on a brown backing. The work dates from around the turn of the nineteenth century and belongs to a series of similar portrait prints made by the artist.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown wearing a dark coat and a light-colored cravat, typical of contemporary dress. No name or biographical details accompany the image, and the identity of the man remains unknown, inviting viewers to focus on the formal qualities of the portrait rather than a specific narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed through mezzotint combined with engraving, the print achieves a rich tonal range and fine line work. The mezzotint ground provides deep shadows, while the engraved lines define the facial features and clothing folds, demonstrating the artist’s skill in manipulating contrast on a compact, circular format.
History & Provenance
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, the piece is part of his broader output of small circular portraits produced circa 1800. It has been retained within the artist’s oeuvre and is now held in a museum collection, where it is displayed alongside other works from the same series.
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.
