Artwork
Catherine D. Dutilh
Catherine D. Dutilh 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. Created in 1801, this black-and-white print depicts Catherine D.
About this work
Overview
The figure is set against a dark, circular backdrop, and a line of handwritten annotation runs beneath the image.
Created in 1801, this black-and-white print depicts Catherine D. Dutill in a formal, high‑collared gown accented with a string of pearls. The figure is set against a dark, circular backdrop, and a line of handwritten annotation runs beneath the image. The work combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper that has been mounted onto a brown‑toned sheet, and it belongs to the Corcoran Collection of the National Gallery of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Dutill as a woman of considerable means, her attire and jewelry signalling social standing. The austere background isolates the sitter, focusing attention on her attire and bearing, while the added notes suggest a documentary purpose, perhaps recording provenance or personal details relevant to the original owner.
Technique & Style
The image merges mezzotint’s rich tonal gradations with the fine line work of engraving, allowing both deep shadows and delicate details to coexist. Executed on wove paper, the print’s surface is smooth, supporting the subtle transitions characteristic of mezzotint, while the engraved lines define the dress’s texture and the pearls’ sheen.
History & Provenance
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin produced the portrait in the early nineteenth century, a period when portrait prints served both decorative and informational roles. The piece entered the Corcoran Collection, now housed within the National Gallery of Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of early American printmaking.
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.
