Artwork
Catherine Andrews Wilkinson
Catherine Andrews Wilkinson is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The print presents Catherine Andrews Wilkinson in a composed pose, rendered in black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been mounted onto a brown backing. The portrait captures her in refined attire, her expression tranquil, and the surrounding setting suggests a formal interior. The work exemplifies early 19th‑century portraiture through its careful rendering of texture and detail.
Subject & Meaning
Catherine Andrews Wilkinson is portrayed as a genteel figure, her clothing and accessories indicating social standing. The calm demeanor and poised stance convey a sense of dignity and poise typical of portrait commissions intended to affirm the sitter’s status and personal virtues within a private or familial context.
Technique & Style
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑MÉmin, the image combines mezzotint’s rich tonal gradations with fine engraving lines, allowing subtle modeling of fabric and facial features. The black ink on wove paper yields a crisp contrast, while the mounting on brown paper adds a supportive background that enhances the visual depth of the composition.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the Corcoran Collection, reflecting its acquisition by the institution that gathered works representative of American portraiture and printmaking. Its attribution to Saint‑MÉmin situates it within his broader oeuvre of detailed portrait prints produced during his American period in the early 1800s.
Context
Saint‑MÉmin, a French artist who spent several years in the United States, was renowned for his meticulous portrait prints of prominent figures. This work aligns with his practice of documenting the emerging American elite, employing techniques that bridged European engraving traditions with the burgeoning market for printed portraiture in the young republic.
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.
