Artwork
Jean Joseph Coiron
Jean Joseph Coiron is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1809 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean Joseph Coiron is a portrait print created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1809, executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper. The work is a small, square format, measuring 5.72 cm on each side, mounted on brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of the portrait is Jean Joseph Coiron, depicted in a vignette focusing solely on his head. The tight composition emphasizes the subtleties of his facial expression.
Technique & Style
Saint-Mémin utilized mezzotint and engraving techniques to achieve deep shadows and pronounced highlights, characteristic of his meticulous hand-crafted approach. Each print was made individually, contributing to the uniqueness of each copy.
History & Provenance
Jean Joseph Coiron is part of the broader Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits. The artist traveled extensively in the United States during the early 19th century, capturing likenesses of diverse individuals, from presidents to common folk.
Context
Created during Saint-Mémin's U.S. travels, this portrait reflects his practice of portraying a wide range of American subjects with precision and clarity, contributing to a visual record of the era's populace.
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.
