Artwork
Alexander Contee Hanson
Alexander Contee Hanson is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a black‑and‑white mezzotint and engraving printed on wove paper, later mounted to a brown wove backing.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black‑and‑white mezzotint and engraving printed on wove paper, later mounted to a brown wove backing. Measuring just 5.72 × 5.72 cm, the piece presents a compact, detailed likeness of Alexander Contee Hanson.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts Alexander Contee Hanson, a prominent early‑19th‑century American politician and journalist. He is shown in formal attire, his expression solemn, reflecting the dignified presentation typical of portraiture intended for personal or official remembrance.
Technique & Style
Created through mezzotint—a tonal printmaking process that allows for subtle gradations of light and shadow—the artist achieved fine detail in the subject’s facial features and clothing. The accompanying engraving adds line work that sharpens the overall composition.
History & Provenance
The print dates from 1804, a period when mezzotint was popular for reproducing portraits. While the original artist’s identity is not recorded, the work has been preserved as part of collections documenting early American political figures.
Context
During the early 1800s, printed portraits served both as a means of disseminating the images of notable individuals and as personal mementos. The small format suggests it may have been intended for private ownership rather than public display.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
