Artwork
Charles W. Goldsborough
Charles W. Goldsborough is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1807, this small print measures just over five and a half centimeters square.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1807, this small print measures just over five and a half centimeters square. Executed in black on wove paper, it combines mezzotint and engraving techniques. The work is held within the Corcoran Collection, which includes a range of comparable portrait prints.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts Charles W. Goldsborough, rendered in a highly detailed, intimate manner. As a portrait, it serves to document Goldsborough’s appearance and status, typical of early‑19th‑century commemorative prints.
Technique & Style
The artist employed mezzotint to achieve rich tonal gradations, while fine engraving lines provide precise definition. This hybrid approach allows for both subtle shading and crisp detail within the limited dimensions of the print.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French‑born artist active in the United States. It entered the Corcoran Collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of early American portraiture.
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.
