Artwork
James Thompson
James Thompson is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Charles B.
About this work
Overview
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin’s portrait of James Thompson is a small, circular print executed in mezzotint and engraving. Created in 1801, the work measures roughly 5.6 × 5.6 cm and is mounted on brown wove paper, giving it a distinctive irregular outline.
Technique & Style
The image combines the tonal richness of mezzotint with the line precision of engraving, both applied to a metal plate before being transferred to black ink on wove paper. This hybrid method allows for fine detail within a compact format, rendering the sitter’s features with notable clarity despite the miniature scale.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts James Thompson, presented in a tight, circular frame that focuses attention on his likeness. While no narrative context is provided, the intimate scale and careful rendering suggest a personal or commemorative purpose, typical of early‑19th‑century portrait prints.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the Corcoran Collection, where it remains catalogued as part of that institution’s holdings. Its acquisition date is not recorded in the available data, but it has been identified as a work by Saint‑Mémin dating to 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.
