Artwork
J. McKie
J. McKie is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This black-and-white print presents a solitary figure rendered in profile.
About this work
Overview
This black-and-white print presents a solitary figure rendered in profile. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving, the image is printed on wove paper that has been affixed to a brown wove backing, giving the work a subtle tonal depth. The sitter, identified as James Edwards, who signed his works as J. McKie, appears in a restrained, side‑view composition typical of late‑18th‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Edwards in a calm, contemplative pose, his features outlined in fine line and softened by the mezzotint’s tonal gradations. The profile format, favored for its association with classical ideals of dignity and rationality, emphasizes the sitter’s individuality while maintaining a modest, unobtrusive presence.
Technique & Style
Combining mezzotint’s rich, velvety shadows with the precise incisions of engraving, the artist achieves a nuanced range of tones within a single monochrome palette. The use of wove paper, both white and brown, supports the delicate gradations and prevents the ink from spreading, resulting in a crisp, controlled image.
History & Provenance
The print originates from the hand of Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, an artist known for his portrait engravings in the early 1800s. It was likely produced shortly after the sitter’s lifetime, serving as a personal likeness or a collectible image for acquaintances.
Context
Profile portraits were a common convention in European printmaking during the period, reflecting both neoclassical aesthetics and practical considerations for reproduction. The work aligns with contemporary trends that favored simplicity of composition and the use of print media to disseminate personal images beyond painted commissions.
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.
