Artwork
John Cassin
John Cassin is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
John Cassin is a mezzotint and engraving print on wove paper, measuring 5.72 × 5.56 cm, created from a 1806 portrait by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts John Cassin with light, curly hair and a formal, detailed military uniform, conveying an air of importance and confidence through his direct, serious gaze.
Technique & Style
Executed in black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper (mounted on brown wove paper), the work features intricate uniform details and a plain background, characteristic of Saint-Mémin's style.
History & Provenance
Originally painted in 1806 by Saint-Mémin, the print's provenance details are not specified here, though its creation ties it to the early 19th-century European portrait tradition.
Context
The uniform and hairstyle place Cassin within the military elite of his time, while the artist's approach reflects the contemporary demand for detailed, realistic 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.
