Artwork
John Samuel Sherburne
John Samuel Sherburne is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Charles B.
About this work
Overview
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin’s print presents John Samuel Sherburne in a compact, black‑ink portrait. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been affixed to a brown‑toned backing, the image measures only a few inches, typical of miniature portraiture intended for personal or intimate display.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is rendered with a high forehead, tightly curled light hair, a pronounced nose, and a white cravat beneath a dark coat. The plain dark backdrop isolates the figure, emphasizing facial features and attire, and suggests a focus on individual identity rather than narrative context.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin combined mezzotint’s tonal richness with fine engraving lines to achieve subtle gradations of light and texture. Tiny cross‑hatching and stippling convey the sheen of fabric and the softness of hair, while the contrast between deep blacks and delicate whites creates a three‑dimensional illusion within the limited scale.
History & Provenance
Created in the early nineteenth century, the print reflects the period’s interest in portable, affordable portraiture for the emerging middle class. It remains catalogued among Saint‑Mémin’s works that document American figures, and copies have appeared in several private collections and museum holdings.
Context
During the post‑Revolutionary era, mezzotint and engraving were popular means of disseminating likenesses of notable individuals. Saint‑Mémin, a French émigré working in the United States, employed these techniques to meet demand for realistic yet economical portrait prints.
Legacy
The portrait exemplifies the technical skill required to render fine detail on a small scale, influencing later American printmakers who sought to balance accuracy with the expressive possibilities of tonal engraving.
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.
