Artwork
Isaac Van Bibber
Isaac Van Bibber is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1803, this portrait of Isaac Van Bibber is a black‑and‑white print executed in mezzotint and engraving. The image is printed on wove paper that has been mounted onto a brown‑toned sheet, giving it a subtle, layered appearance. The work presents Van Bibber in a restrained, formal pose, emphasizing his facial features and period attire.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Isaac Van Bibber, appears as a dignified gentleman of the early United States. He wears a plain white shirt beneath a dark jacket, his hair styled in the fashion of the era. The serious expression and direct gaze suggest a portrait intended to convey respectability and personal standing.
Technique & Style
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin combined mezzotint’s tonal richness with fine engraving lines to achieve delicate gradations of light and shadow. The print’s black ink on wove paper allows for smooth transitions, while the mounting on brown paper adds depth. The overall effect balances the softness of mezzotint with the crispness of engraving.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the French‑American artist Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, the print reflects his activity in the United States during the early nineteenth century. While specific ownership records are limited, the work is representative of Saint‑Mémin’s series of American portrait prints produced after his arrival in Philadelphia.
Context
At the turn of the 19th century, portrait prints served as an affordable means for emerging American elites to document their likenesses. Saint‑Mémin, trained in French engraving, brought European techniques to a new market, catering to patrons like Van Bibber who sought a dignified visual record of their social status.
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.
