Artwork
Joseph McIlvaine
Joseph McIlvaine is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1798, this print portrays Joseph McIlvaine, a gentleman attired in a dark coat, set against an unadorned background. The composition emphasizes his illuminated face, marked by keen eyes and a composed mouth, while the surrounding space remains minimal, directing attention to the sitter’s dignified presence.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures McIlvaine as a figure of quiet authority, his steady gaze and restrained expression suggesting a man of professional or civic standing. The subdued setting and lack of ornamental detail focus the viewer on his character, conveying a sense of personal integrity without overt symbolism.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint combined with engraving, the image exploits the tonal richness of the mezzotint process, producing velvety shadows that model the folds of the coat and the contours of the face. Fine engraved lines define details such as facial features, while the overall effect is one of smooth gradations rather than crisp line work.
History & Provenance
The work was produced by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist active in the United States during the late eighteenth century. It entered the Corcoran Collection, where it remains documented as part of the museum’s holdings of early American portrait prints.
Context
Saint‑Mémin’s American period coincided with a demand for portraiture among the new republic’s elite, who sought images that combined European technique with an emerging national identity. This print reflects that blend, offering a refined yet accessible representation suited to the tastes of the post‑revolutionary elite.
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.
