Artwork
Charles Ramsay
Charles Ramsay is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1797, this print presents a profile likeness of Charles Ramsay. Executed in black on wove paper, the image combines mezzotint and engraving techniques, resulting in a finely rendered portrait that forms part of the Corcoran Collection now housed at the National Gallery of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures Ramsay in a turned, side‑view pose, his gaze directed away from the viewer. The composition emphasizes the sitter’s facial features and attire, offering a formal representation typical of late‑eighteenth‑century portraiture.
Technique & Style
Employing both mezzotint and engraving, the artist achieved a rich tonal range and precise line work. Mezzotint provided subtle gradations of shadow, while engraving contributed crisp outlines, together allowing a high degree of detail on the paper support.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist active in America during the post‑revolutionary period. It entered the Corcoran Collection, which was later transferred to the National Gallery of Art, where it remains in 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.
