Artwork
David Bayard Ogden
David Bayard Ogden is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1799, this intimate portrait depicts David Bayard Ogger in a compact square format measuring roughly 5.
About this work
This painting is a small portrait of David Bayard Ogden.
It's an engraving made in 1799. The artist used a lot of details to show Ogden's face and clothes.
The portrait is very small, only about 5.5 cm square, which makes the details even more impressive.
You can learn more about this technique by looking up the artist: Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
Overview
Created in 1799, this intimate portrait depicts David Bayard Ogger in a compact square format measuring roughly 5.
Created in 1799, this intimate portrait depicts David Bayard Ogger in a compact square format measuring roughly 5.5 centimeters on each side. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, the image is mounted on a brown backing sheet, emphasizing the delicate tonal range achievable in the medium. The work exemplifies the precision and subtle shading characteristic of late‑eighteenth‑century printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents David Bayard Ogger, rendered with careful attention to facial features and attire, suggesting a desire to convey both likeness and social standing. The restrained composition focuses on the sitter’s expression, allowing viewers to infer a sense of personal dignity without overt symbolism, typical of portraiture intended for private circulation among acquaintances or patrons.
Technique & Style
Employing mezzotint—a process that creates rich, velvety blacks through a roughened plate—and subsequent engraving, the artist achieves fine detail within the limited surface. The combination of these techniques permits nuanced gradations of tone, rendering textures of clothing and skin with remarkable clarity despite the miniature scale.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist active in the United States during the post‑revolutionary period. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work likely circulated among Ogger’s acquaintances or family, reflecting the period’s practice of distributing portrait prints as personal mementos.
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.
