Artwork

Asbury Dickins

Asbury Dickins, by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, ink, 1801
Asbury Dickins, by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, ink, 1801

Asbury Dickins is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Asbury Dickins is a small print created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1801, measuring 5.56 cm square. It is a profile portrait executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper.

Technique & Style

The print showcases the artist's use of mezzotint, a labor-intensive process involving roughening and smoothing a metal plate to achieve tonal variations. The resulting image is characterized by crisp black and white contrasts, capturing the subject's features with precision.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts a man's left-side profile, conveying a sense of calmness and quiet strength through its subtle lines and shading. The subject's expression is serene, inviting the viewer to contemplate the image.

History & Provenance

The print is currently housed in the National Gallery of Art, indicating its significance as a work worthy of preservation and public display.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.