Artwork
William Gwynn
William Gwynn is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Wm. Gwinn. / y
About this work
Overview
This small print, created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1804, measures 5.72 × 5.72 cm and is part of the Corcoran Collection. It is a mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man in profile, wearing a coat and having neatly styled hair. The subject's face is softly illuminated, evoking a pre-photographic era.
Technique & Style
The artwork employs mezzotint and engraving techniques to achieve shades of gray through tiny dots and lines, creating a nuanced representation of the subject's face with minimal marks.
Context
Mezzotint was a popular technique in the early 19th century for producing prints that resembled paintings, and this work exemplifies its application.
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.
