Artwork
Elizabeth Marius Kemper
Elizabeth Marius Kemper 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
This 19th‑century print presents Elizabeth Marius Kemper in a side view, turned toward the left. Rendered in monochrome, the image combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper, later mounted on a brown‑toned sheet, emphasizing the sitter’s facial features and attire against an unadorned backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
Kemper is shown wearing a period bonnet and a voluminous, ruffled gown, garments that signal her social standing and fashion of the era. The profile pose, a conventional format for portraiture, directs attention to her expression and the delicate detailing of her clothing.
Technique & Style
The artist employed the mezzotint process to achieve rich tonal gradations, while fine engraving lines define the intricate folds of the dress and the texture of the bonnet. The choice of black pigment on wove paper creates a stark contrast that highlights the sitter without the distraction of color.
History & Provenance
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French engraver known for his portrait prints, the work reflects his practice of documenting notable individuals of his time. The print’s paper mounting suggests it was prepared for display or collection in a domestic setting.
Context
During the early 1800s, mezzotint and engraving were popular means of reproducing likenesses before photography. Saint‑Mémin’s prints often served as visual records of the emerging bourgeois class, situating Kemper within the broader social and artistic currents of post‑Revolutionary France.
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.
