Artwork
John Taylor
John Taylor 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. This small print, measuring 5.
About this work
Overview
This small print, measuring 5.72 × 5.56 cm, is a portrait of a man identified as John Taylor, an American postmaster. Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1806, it is executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper.
Technique & Style
The portrait showcases the artist's skill in mezzotint and engraving techniques, capturing the subject's facial features with considerable detail and realism. The use of black on wove paper mounted to brown wove paper adds depth to the image.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, likely John Taylor, is depicted within a simple frame, suggesting a straightforward and dignified representation. As a postmaster, Taylor held a significant role, and this portrait may have been created to acknowledge his position.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the collection at the Smithsonian Institution, indicating its preservation and recognition as a work of historical or artistic significance.
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.
