Artwork
James Madison Broom
James Madison Broom is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This print shows a man in a dark coat with a white cravat. His gaze is steady, almost tired. The artist used fine lines to shade his face and coat.
Saint-Mémin made this in 1807. He used a method called mezzotint, which lets artists create soft grays and deep blacks. The print is small, about 7 by 5 inches.
Look up another work by Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
Overview
Created in 1807, this small print measures roughly 7 by 5 inches and combines mezzotint with engraving on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown wove backing. The work portrays James Madison Broom, rendered in a dark coat and white cravat, his expression steady and slightly weary.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait focuses on Broom, a figure of early‑19th‑century American society, emphasizing his dignified bearing through restrained pose and subdued coloration. The artist’s careful rendering of facial lines and clothing suggests a balance between public stature and personal introspection.
Technique & Style
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin employed the mezzotint process, a printmaking method that builds rich tonal gradations from deep blacks to delicate grays, complemented by fine engraved lines for detail. This hybrid approach allows subtle shading of the coat and nuanced modeling of the face.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the Corcoran Collection, a notable repository of American art. It has been reproduced as high‑quality prints on various media, extending its accessibility beyond the original paper matrix.
Context
Saint‑Mémin, a French émigré active in the United States, produced a series of portrait prints of American political and social leaders during the early 1800s. This work fits within his broader effort to document prominent figures of the young republic through the mezzotint medium.
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.
