Artwork
John Goddard
John Goddard is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1804 by Charles B.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1804 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, this intimate print measures just under six centimeters on each side. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving in black ink, the image is mounted on a brown wove paper backing, forming a compact, two‑tone work that belongs to the Corcoran Collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a solitary male figure in profile, showing head and shoulders. He is dressed in a dark coat over a white shirt, set against an unadorned background that isolates the sitter and emphasizes his facial features without narrative distraction.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed a dense cross‑hatching method, layering fine parallel lines to generate tonal variation. This approach creates a gradual transition from deep shadows to lighter areas, giving the portrait a softly modeled, three‑dimensional quality despite the limited palette.
History & Provenance
The print, titled "John Goddard," entered the Corcoran Collection at an unspecified date and has remained there as a representative example of early nineteenth‑century French printmaking. Its modest dimensions and technical execution reflect the artist’s practice of producing portable portrait prints for private circulation.
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.
