Artwork
Jean Noel Destréhan
Jean Noel Destréhan is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This engraving shows a man’s face in profile, all dark lines and soft shadows.
This engraving shows a man’s face in profile, all dark lines and soft shadows. His coat and cravat look crisp against the plain background. The artist used cross-hatching—tiny lines layered to create smooth shading.
The artist made only one known print of this image in 1805. It was pulled from a copper plate after inking, then glued to a thicker sheet. The fine work shows off the skills of early American engravers.
Watch how the light catches his cheekbone—it’s almost photographic. Check out more prints by Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
Overview
This 1805 mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper, presents a bust portrait of Jean Noël Destréhan in profile, rendered through meticulous dark lines and soft shadows against a plain background.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Jean Noël Destréhan, is depicted facing right in a formal, profile bust portrait, emphasizing his dignified appearance through the crisp detailing of his coat and cravat.
Technique & Style
The artwork showcases early American engraving techniques, particularly cross-hatching, where layered tiny lines achieve smooth shading. The process involved inking a copper plate, pulling a single known print, and subsequently mounting it to a thicker paper support.
History & Provenance
Created in 1805 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, the print is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art, with only one known impression of this image extant.
Legacy
This engraving highlights the technical prowess of early American engravers, demonstrating a level of detail that anticipates photographic realism, as evident in the nuanced capture of the subject's cheekbone.
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.
