Artwork
Mieris
Mieris is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1800, this black-and-white print combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned backing. The work is attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin and is part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a gentleman—identified as the Dutch painter Frans van Mieris the Elder—standing in a dark coat against a lightened background. The sharply rendered facial features convey a sense of immediacy, suggesting the artist’s intent to preserve the likeness of a notable figure from the late eighteenth century.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed fine cross‑hatching and delicate line work to model light and shadow, producing a texture that resembles a photographic rendering. The integration of mezzotint’s tonal richness with engraving’s precise lines gives the portrait a crisp, almost contemporary clarity.
History & Provenance
The print is not an original portrait but a faithful reproduction of a now‑lost drawing by van Mieris. Saint‑Mémin produced the work to maintain the visual record of the painter’s appearance after the original was lost, ensuring the continuity of his image within art historical archives.
Context
During the turn of the nineteenth century, reproducing portraits through printmaking was a common method for disseminating the likenesses of artists and patrons. Saint‑Mémin’s choice of mezzotint and engraving reflects the period’s technical advancements in achieving tonal depth and fine detail.
Legacy
By preserving the appearance of Frans van Mieris the Elder, the print serves as a valuable documentary resource for scholars studying Dutch art of the eighteenth century, illustrating how printmakers contributed to the survival of visual heritage when original works were lost.
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.
