Who painted P.J. Marco?

P.J. Marco was painted by Augustin de Saint-Aubin in 1784.

Where can I see P.J. Marco?

P.J. Marco is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is P.J. Marco?

P.J. Marco is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

P.J. Marco

Augustin de Saint-Aubin , 1784

P.J. Marco is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Augustin de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1784 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1784, this oval portrait print presents a gentleman’s head and shoulders against a dark field.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1784, this oval portrait print presents a gentleman’s head and shoulders against a dark field. The sitter’s face is turned toward the viewer’s right, his wig styled in tight curls, and he is dressed in a high‑collared coat with a white cravat. The composition is rendered on laid paper, and the work is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts an individual of some standing, suggested by the formal attire and careful rendering of facial features. The pose, with the head slightly turned, conveys a calm, introspective demeanor, while the contrast of light and shadow emphasizes the sitter’s presence within the otherwise muted background.

Technique & Style

The print combines engraving and etching, allowing the artist to achieve both precise line work and softer tonal areas. Fine, parallel lines create texture in the hair and fabric, while broader etched washes model the facial volume. The use of chiaroscuro enhances the three‑dimensional effect, characteristic of late‑18th‑century French printmaking.

History & Provenance

The work was produced by Augustin de Saint‑Aubin, a member of a well‑known French family of engravers. After its creation, the print entered various private collections before being acquired by the National Gallery of Art, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of French prints from the pre‑revolutionary period.

Context

Executed during the waning years of the Ancien Régime, the portrait reflects the conventions of aristocratic representation prevalent in French art of the 1780s. The emphasis on refined dress and controlled expression aligns with the period’s taste for elegance and restraint, preceding the more radical artistic shifts that followed the Revolution.

Artist & collection

Artist

Augustin de Saint-Aubin

Augustin de Saint-Aubin sometimes styled Auguste de Saint-Aubin (3 January 1736 – 9 November 1807), belongs to an important dynasty of French designers and engravers.