Artwork
John Cotton Smith
John Cotton Smith 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 Cotton Smith is a small print (5.56 × 5.56 cm) created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1806, utilizing mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a profile portrait of John Cotton Smith, characterized by his curled white hair at the neck and a coat with high lapels and a dark-edged design. The plain background emphasizes the subject's likeness, which was originally based on a painting of Smith, who served as Governor of Connecticut.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint and engraving, this work reflects the popularity of these techniques in the early 19th century for rapid portrait reproduction. The use of engraved metal plates allowed for detailed, high-quality copies, as seen in this portrait's fine rendering.
History & Provenance
Created in 1806, the print is now in the public domain. Its creation was facilitated by Saint-Mémin's method of engraving, which enabled the mass production of portraits from existing paintings, in this case, a likeness of John Cotton Smith.
Context
This print exemplifies the early 19th-century trend for mezzotint portraits, which were valued for their ability to quickly disseminate likenesses of notable figures across a wider audience.
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.
