Artwork
Hugh Nelson
Hugh Nelson 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
Created in 1808, this print depicts Hugh Nelson in a formal pose, his expression solemn and composed. Executed as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the image is rendered on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown wove backing. The work belongs to the Corcoran Collection and is attributed to the French printmaker Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Nelson as a dignified figure, dressed in contemporary formal attire that underscores his social standing. The serious demeanor and direct gaze suggest a focus on character and status rather than narrative content, typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture intended to convey respectability and authority.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed the mezzotint process, roughening a copper plate to hold ink and then smoothing areas to achieve tonal variation. Engraving lines were added to sharpen details, allowing a rich gradation of shadows and highlights. This combination yields a nuanced surface where fine textures and subtle gradations coexist, showcasing the artist’s mastery of printmaking.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Corcoran Collection, a major American art institution, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings. Its attribution to Saint‑Mémin aligns with his known activity in portrait printmaking during the Napoleonic era, reflecting the transatlantic exchange of artistic practices in the early 1800s.
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.
