Artwork
John Edwards Caldwell
John Edwards Caldwell is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This 1799 print by Charles B.
About this work
The artist used fine lines to shape the shadows and details of the face.
This small print shows a man in a dark coat with a high white collar. His face is calm and well-lit against a plain background. The artist used fine lines to shape the shadows and details of the face.
This was made in 1799, when portraits like this were popular in America. Mezzotint prints were rare back then. They gave a smooth, rich look to skin and fabric.
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Overview
This 1799 print by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin portrays John Edwards Caldwell in a formal, dark coat set against a plain background. The subject's calm face is rendered in meticulous detail.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures John Edwards Caldwell with a serene expression and a high white collar, suggesting a portrait of dignity and professionalism, characteristic of popular American portraiture during this period.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint and engraving, the print leverages the medium's capability to produce smooth, rich textures, evident in the subtle shading of the subject's face and attire, achieved through fine lines.
History & Provenance
Created in 1799, this work is notable for its use of mezzotint, a rare technique in America at the time, underscoring Saint-Mémin's skill in this medium.
Context
Produced during a period when such portraits were highly popular in America, the work reflects the contemporary taste for formal, detailed likenesses, with the mezzotint adding a level of sophistication.
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.
