Artwork
John Peter Van Ness
John Peter Van Ness 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
You can learn more about the artist who created this portrait by looking up Saint-Mémin, Charles B.
This painting shows John Peter Van Ness in a side profile bust.
He's wearing formal attire and a late 18th-century hairstyle.
The artist used mezzotint and engraving to create this portrait, which is interesting because it was made around 1805, a time when these techniques were still developing.
The portrait gives us a glimpse into the fashion of the time.
The subject's hairstyle and clothing are typical of the late 18th century.
This level of detail suggests the artist was trying to accurately depict Van Ness.
You can learn more about the artist who created this portrait by looking up Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de.
Overview
This portrait depicts John Peter Van Ness in a side profile bust, executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin circa 1805.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait focuses on capturing Van Ness's likeness, showcasing his late 18th-century formal attire and hairstyle, providing a glimpse into the period's fashion.
Technique & Style
The use of mezzotint and engraving techniques, still developing at the time, highlights the artist's attention to detail in accurately portraying the subject.
History & Provenance
The work is part of the Corcoran Collection, though the artist's intent and the subject's significance beyond the portrait's creation are not explicitly detailed here.
Context
Created around 1805, the portrait reflects the transitional period in printmaking techniques and late 18th-century societal attire.
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.
