Artwork
Ferguson
Ferguson 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
You see a tiny black-and-white portrait from 1797. It shows a man’s head in profile, like a coin stamp. The paper is small enough to fit in your palm.
This is a mezzotint, a tricky print method where the artist scrapes metal to make soft shadows. It took real skill to get such smooth light on the face.
Look up Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de to see more of his profile prints.
Overview
This small print, titled 'Ferguson', is a profile portrait created in 1797 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin. Measuring 5.56 × 5.56 cm, it is a compact work on wove paper, mounted to a brown backing sheet.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in mezzotint and engraving, techniques that require great skill to achieve the soft, nuanced shading evident on the subject's face. Mezzotint involves scraping a metal plate to create subtle gradations of tone.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man's head in profile, rendered in a style reminiscent of a coin or medal. The simplicity and intimacy of the portrait suggest a focus on capturing the subject's likeness with precision and subtlety.
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.
