Artwork
Elisha Cullen Dick
Elisha Cullen Dick is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This print is a portrait of Elisha Cullen Dick, created using mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper. It is based on a profile painting by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Dick in a strict profile view, capturing his likeness with sharp clarity. The image conveys a sense of formality, characteristic of official portraits from the late 18th to early 19th century.
Technique & Style
The print's crisp lines and stark contrast between light and shadow are achieved through Saint-Mémin's use of a mechanical device to fix the sitter's face in place, allowing for rapid and precise rendering.
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.
