Artwork
George Jefferson, Jr.
George Jefferson, Jr. 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. The work is a black-and-white print created in 1808 by Charles B.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black-and-white print created in 1808 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Ménin. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned sheet, the image presents a right‑hand profile of George Jefferson, Jr. The piece belongs to a public‑domain collection of sepia‑toned sketches.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Jefferson, Jr. in a formal, frontal pose, emphasizing the sitter’s attire and bearing. The crisp delineation of his collar and facial features conveys a sense of professional dignity typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture, suggesting the image functioned as a record of status rather than a narrative scene.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Ménin employed a combination of mezzotint and fine engraving, using dense cross‑hatching to render tonal gradations and subtle shadows. The contrast between deep black areas and delicate whites creates a three‑dimensional impression of the subject’s facial planes, while the precise line work highlights the crispness of the collar and hair.
History & Provenance
The print originates from Washington, D.C., where Saint‑Ménin produced a series of portrait prints in the early 1800s. It later entered a collection of sepia‑toned sketches that has been digitized and made publicly accessible, confirming its status as a public‑domain artifact.
Context
During the post‑Revolutionary period, portrait prints served as a means of documenting prominent individuals for a growing American audience. Saint‑Ménin’s work reflects the era’s demand for reproducible images that could be distributed beyond the limited reach of painted portraits, aligning with the expanding print culture of the young republic.
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.
