Artwork
Francis Hollingsworth
Francis Hollingsworth is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1804 by Charles B.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1804 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mimin, this mezzotint and engraving presents a diminutive portrait of Francis Hollingsworth. The print measures roughly 5.56 × 5.56 cm and is mounted on brown wove paper, giving it an irregular, almost fragmentary appearance that suggests a cut‑out from a larger composition.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures Hollingsworth in profile, his face illuminated by a gentle, diffused light against an unadorned background. Attire is rendered with particular attention: the coat and cravat are clearly delineated, while the surrounding shadows are suggested through looser, gestural lines, emphasizing the sitter’s presence without narrative context.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint, the artist first incised a metal plate, then applied ink to produce a tonal range from deep blacks to delicate grays. The print reveals the characteristic wear of the plate over time, visible as faint line variations, while the combination of fine engraving and broader mezzotint shading creates a contrast between detailed clothing and softer facial modeling.
History & Provenance
The portrait was produced shortly after Saint‑Mimin’s arrival in the United States, a period during which he documented numerous American figures. Though the original plate’s whereabouts are unknown, the surviving impression has been preserved on wove paper and remains part of collections that focus on early American portraiture.
Context
Mezzotint was a relatively rare medium in early‑19th‑century America, valued for its capacity to render subtle gradations of tone. Saint‑Mimin’s work, including this portrait, reflects his European training and his adaptation to American subjects, offering a visual record of the emerging cultural elite during the post‑Revolutionary era.
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.
