Artwork
John Bell
John Bell is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1808, this small print measures just over five centimeters square and depicts the head and shoulders of John Bell. Rendered in black on wove paper that is mounted to a brown backing, the portrait presents Bell in a dark coat with a white cravat, rendered with clear, restrained detail.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on Bell’s facial features and attire, offering a straightforward representation without ornamental excess. The composition emphasizes the sitter’s dignified bearing, suggesting a formal portrait intended for personal or documentary purposes rather than decorative display.
Technique & Style
Executed as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the image was produced from a copper plate incised with fine grooves that retain ink. The artist employed cross‑hatching to model the flesh tones, achieving subtle gradations of light and shadow characteristic of early American mezzotints, a relatively uncommon medium at the time.
History & Provenance
The print is attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French‑trained artist active in the United States in the early nineteenth century. It now belongs to the Corcoran Collection, indicating its acquisition by the museum’s holdings sometime after its creation.
Context
During the early 1800s, mezzotint production in America was limited, making works like this notable examples of the technique’s introduction to the New World. Saint‑Mémin’s practice of combining mezzotint with engraving reflects his adaptation of European print methods to American portraiture.
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.
