Artwork
J. Ross
J. Ross 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. Created in 1803, the small print titled “J.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1803, the small print titled “J. Ross” measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side. Executed by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, it combines mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown backing. The work resides in the Corcoran Collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a single figure rendered with a poised, cultivated bearing. The sitter’s attire and demeanor convey a sense of genteel refinement, typical of portraiture intended to emphasize social standing and personal elegance in the early nineteenth‑century.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed the mezzotint process to achieve rich tonal gradations, while the engraved lines add precise definition to facial features and clothing. The interplay of these methods yields a delicate balance between soft shading and crisp detail, characteristic of his hybrid printmaking approach.
History & Provenance
After its production in the United States, the print entered the Corcoran Collection, which later merged with the National Gallery of Art. Its presence in this institutional collection ensures scholarly access and preservation, reflecting the work’s relevance to American print history.
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.
