William Stedman
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1805
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
1805
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This small engraving shows William Stedman’s head and shoulders. His coat has a high collar and his hair is neatly combed. Saint-Mémin made this print in 1805, early in his career when he still lived in Philadelphia. The dark, cross-hatched lines create soft shadows on Stedman’s face. The tight crop and careful shading make it feel intimate. If you like early American portraits, look up Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
