Artwork
William Henry Hill
William Henry Hill 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. This 1799 portrait by Charles B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: Drawn & engrd. by St. Memin Philadela.; lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Wm. A Hill.
About this work
The painting shows William Henry Hill in a left profile. He's dressed in simple clothes. His face is the focus.
The artist used a lot of detail to make Hill look real. The portrait is from 1799, which is interesting because it was a different time. The way the artist made the portrait is also notable.
You can learn more about this technique by looking into engraving.
Overview
This 1799 portrait by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin is a print of William Henry Hill. Created using mezzotint and engraving techniques, it is now in the public domain.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts William Henry Hill in left profile, dressed simply, with his face as the primary focus. The level of detail achieved by the artist lends a sense of realism to the subject.
Technique & Style
The print combines mezzotint and engraving in black on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper. The artist's use of these techniques results in a highly detailed representation of Hill.
History & Provenance
Dating to 1799, the portrait is a product of its time, reflecting the artistic and technical capabilities of the late 18th century.
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.
