Artwork
Brumaud
Brumaud is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1800, this modestly sized print measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1800, this modestly sized print measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side. Executed in black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, it is adhered to a sturdier brown backing. The image portrays a French aristocrat, rendered with a restrained palette that emphasizes tonal contrast.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown in a dark coat complemented by a crisp white cravat, his visage illuminated from one side. The lighting casts pronounced shadows beneath the nose and jaw, suggesting a contemplative or formal bearing typical of portraiture intended to convey status and dignity.
Technique & Style
The artist employed cross‑hatching, interlacing fine lines to achieve subtle gradations of tone. This method allows the dark garment to merge seamlessly with the surrounding gray, while the bright cravat stands out sharply. The delicate balance of line and shade exemplifies the printmaker’s skill in manipulating texture within a limited scale.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Ménin, a French engraver active in the early nineteenth century, the work entered the Corcoran Collection, where it remains documented. Its presence in an American museum collection reflects the transatlantic circulation of French portrait prints during that period.
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.
