Artwork
John Herbert Dent
John Herbert Dent is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1809 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1809, this modestly sized print measures just under six centimeters on each side.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1809, this modestly sized print measures just under six centimeters on each side. Executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, it is mounted on a brown wove backing and belongs to the Corcoran Collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays a man in a dark coat, his hair gathered at the back, looking slightly to his left. His demeanor is composed, and the plain background offers no narrative clues, focusing attention on the sitter’s calm presence.
Technique & Style
The artist combined mezzotint’s tonal richness with delicate engraving lines to render subtle shadows and surface texture. Fine incised marks delineate the figure’s features, demonstrating the meticulous handwork characteristic of early‑19th‑century printmaking.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French‑American artist active in the early 1800s, the work entered the Corcoran Collection, where it remains documented as part of the museum’s print holdings.
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.
