Artwork
David Watson
David Watson 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.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black-and-white print combining mezzotint and engraving, executed on wove paper that has been mounted onto a second sheet of brown wove paper. It presents a portrait of David Watson, a legal professional linked to Thomas Jefferson, rendered with a solemn demeanor and modest attire characteristic of early‑19th‑century attorneys.
Subject & Meaning
David Watson is shown seated at a table, surrounded by books and documents that allude to his legal practice and intellectual engagements. The inclusion of these objects underscores his occupation and suggests a life devoted to scholarly and civic responsibilities, while his grave expression conveys the seriousness expected of a jurist of his era.
Technique & Style
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin employed the tonal richness of mezzotint to model Watson’s facial features, then added linear precision through engraving to define clothing and surrounding items. The juxtaposition of these methods yields a nuanced surface where soft shadows transition into crisp outlines, a hallmark of Saint‑Mémin’s portrait prints.
History & Provenance
The portrait forms part of the Corcoran Collection, a repository that acquired many works by Saint‑Mémin during the 19th century. Its presence in this collection reflects the artist’s reputation for documenting notable figures of the early United States, and the print has remained in the museum’s holdings since its accession.
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.
