Artwork
Ann Jay
Ann Jay is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Charles B.
About this work
You can learn more about this kind of art by looking at the technique of engraving.
This painting shows a woman with delicate features and a calm expression.
She's dressed in simple clothes and has a gentle face.
The artist used a lot of detail to make her look real.
The woman in the painting is Ann Jay, and the artist made this portrait in 1797.
It's a small work, but it's still very detailed, which is interesting.
You can learn more about this kind of art by looking at the technique of engraving.
Overview
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin’s 1797 portrait of Ann Jay is a small-scale print executed in mezzotint and engraving. Rendered entirely in black on wove paper that is subsequently mounted to a brown backing, the image measures just over seven centimeters by six, presenting a finely detailed likeness of a seated woman.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Ann Jay, appears with a composed demeanor and soft facial features, dressed in unadorned attire that suggests modesty rather than aristocratic display. The calm expression and restrained composition convey a sense of personal dignity, typical of private portraiture in the late eighteenth‑century French context.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin combined the tonal richness of mezzotint with the line precision of engraving, allowing subtle gradations of shadow alongside crisp outlines. The use of wove paper provides a smooth surface that captures fine detail, while the mounting on brown paper adds a supportive base and modest visual framing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1797, the print reflects the artist’s activity during the post‑Revolutionary period when French portraitists increasingly turned to print media for wider distribution. Though specific ownership records are limited, the work survives in several institutional collections, indicating its continued relevance to studies of late‑eighteenth‑century French engraving.
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.
