Artwork
John Watson
John Watson is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1802 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
John Watson is a portrait print depicting the subject's upper-body profile in leftward orientation. Executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, the work measures 5.56 × 5.56 cm.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures John Watson with curly hair, a clean-shaven face, and attire characteristic of the late 18th century: a high-collared coat and white cravat. The subject's identity and context are not elaborated beyond the physical depiction.
Technique & Style
The print combines mezzotint (for tonal depth) with engraving (for line precision), demonstrating the artist's skill in blending these techniques to achieve detailed rendering, notably in the facial features and textile elements.
History & Provenance
Created in 1800 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, the artwork's provenance and exhibition history are not detailed in available information.
Context
The work reflects late 18th-century portrait conventions, with the artist likely drawing from prevailing European (particularly French) engraving traditions of the time.
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.
