Artwork
Chapman Johnson
Chapman Johnson 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. Created circa 1808, this modestly sized print measures roughly 5.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1808, this modestly sized print measures roughly 5.5 by 5.5 centimeters. Executed in black on wove paper that has been adhered to a brown backing, it belongs to the Corcoran Collection. The work is a portrait of a gentleman rendered in a combination of mezzotint and engraving techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a man dressed in a dark overcoat with a crisp white collar. His expression is composed, and the lighting, coming from the viewer’s left, highlights the smoothness of his face while casting subtle shadows that suggest a calm demeanor.
Technique & Style
The artist employed mezzotint to achieve rich tonal gradations, complemented by fine engraved lines that delineate the folds of the coat. This hybrid approach, uncommon in early‑19th‑century America, allows for both the softness of tonal shading and the precision of line work within a very compact format.
History & Provenance
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Ménin produced the print in Washington, D.C., at a time when mezzotint was scarcely practiced in the United States. The piece later entered the Corcoran Collection, where it remains documented as part of the museum’s holdings.
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.
