Artwork
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis 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
This portrait print depicts Meriwether Lewis in profile, shown from the shoulders up. Created by Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin, a French artist working in the United States.
Technique & Style
The portrait was produced using a combination of mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper. Mezzotint involves roughening a metal plate to create dark areas, then scraping away to achieve lighter tones, a labor-intensive process requiring great skill.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Meriwether Lewis, is presented in a formal, head-and-shoulders portrait. The profile view emphasizes his facial features and suggests a sense of dignity and importance.
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.
