Artwork
William Thornton
William Thornton 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. This 1804 mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, measuring 7.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Dr. Thornton. / Wm.
About this work
Overview
This 1804 mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, measuring 7.46 × 6.03 cm, portrays William Thornton. It is housed in both the Corcoran Collection and the Library of Congress's Marian S. Carson collection.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, William Thornton, is depicted wearing a dark coat with a high white collar against a dark background. His face, rendered in sharp lines with subtle, soft lighting, conveys a sense of depth and character.
Technique & Style
The artwork combines mezzotint and engraving techniques. Fine lines were engraved into a metal plate, which was then inked. Strategic use of a burnisher smoothed select lines, creating gentle shadows that impart a near three-dimensional quality to Thornton’s features, characteristic of the popular mezzotint portrait style of the early 19th century.
History & Provenance
Created in 1804 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, the print is part of two notable collections: the Corcoran Collection and the Library of Congress's Marian S. Carson collection.
Context
The piece reflects the early 19th-century preference for mezzotint in portraitures, valued for its ability to capture nuanced, detailed likenesses.
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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.
