Artwork
Hannah Carrington Cabell
Hannah Carrington Cabell 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.
About this work
Overview
This 1808 mezzotint and engraving portrait depicts Hannah Carrington Cabell, wife of Governor William H. Cabell, as a prominent socialite of her time.
Subject & Meaning
The formal portrait conveys Hannah's high social standing through her elaborate attire and serious demeanor, offering a glimpse into the life of a governor's wife in the early 19th century.
Technique & Style
Created using the mezzotint technique, popular for its ability to produce detailed, realistic images, the portrait showcases meticulous attention to Hannah's clothing and accessories, characteristic of the artist's attention to detail.
History & Provenance
Executed by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1808, the work is a historically significant piece from its era, though specific provenance details are not provided here.
Context
The mezzotint reflects the artistic preferences of the time, with its use of mezzotint for portraiture being a hallmark of early 19th-century printmaking.
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.
