Artwork
Joseph Bryan
Joseph Bryan 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.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black-and-white print portraying Joseph Bryan in profile. Executed in 1804, the image presents the sitter’s head turned to the right, his gaze directed forward. The composition is a straightforward bust portrait, emphasizing the subject’s facial features and modest attire.
Subject & Meaning
Joseph Bryan appears in simple dress—a white shirt beneath a dark jacket—reflecting the modest fashion of an early‑nineteenth‑century gentleman. The direct, unembellished rendering suggests a focus on individual identity rather than allegorical or narrative content, typical of portraiture intended for personal or documentary purposes.
Technique & Style
The image combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper, later mounted to a brown‑toned sheet. Mezzotint provides a rich tonal range, while engraving adds fine line work, together producing a nuanced contrast that captures subtle shading of the face and clothing.
History & Provenance
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, the print belongs to his extensive series of portrait prints. It is catalogued within the Saint‑Mémin Collection of Portraits, a body of work that assembled likenesses of notable individuals from the period.
Context
Portrait prints like this one were common in the early 1800s as an affordable means of disseminating images of prominent figures. Saint‑Mémin’s series documented contemporary dress and physiognomy, offering modern viewers insight into the visual culture and social conventions of the era.
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.
