Artwork
Miles King, Jr.
Miles King, Jr. is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Executed in black ink on wove paper and mounted to a brown wove support, it belongs to a series of fifteen profile portraits compiled by the artist.
This print is a portrait of Miles King, Jr., created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin using mezzotint and engraving techniques. Executed in black ink on wove paper and mounted to a brown wove support, it belongs to a series of fifteen profile portraits compiled by the artist. The work reflects Saint-Mémin’s systematic effort to document prominent American figures during the early 19th century.
Subject & Meaning
Miles King, Jr. is depicted in strict profile, a conventional pose for formal portraiture of the period. His attire, typical of early 1800s male dress, suggests his social standing without overt symbolism. The focus on facial structure and restrained detail conveys dignity and individuality, aligning with the era’s interest in recording personal identity through precise visual documentation.
Technique & Style
Saint-Mémin employed mezzotint to achieve subtle tonal gradations, complemented by fine engraving lines that define texture in fabric and hair. The process allowed for rich blacks and delicate highlights, enhancing the portrait’s lifelike quality. The precision of the rendering reflects the technical demands of intaglio printing and the artist’s mastery of the medium.
History & Provenance
The portrait is part of the Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, assembled between 1796 and 1815. Originally created for private circulation, the series was later acquired by the Corcoran Gallery of Art and transferred to the National Gallery of Art in 2014. Its preservation reflects its significance as a historical record of early American elites.
Context
Saint-Mémin, a French émigré, developed his portrait method in the United States as a means of economic survival and cultural contribution. His profile portraits responded to a growing demand for likenesses among the emerging American upper class, who valued personal documentation before the widespread use of photography.
Legacy
The series remains a key resource for studying early American portraiture and printmaking. Saint-Mémin’s technique influenced subsequent generations of engravers and provided a visual archive of individuals whose presence in other media is scarce. The works continue to inform historical and artistic scholarship on identity and representation in the young republic.
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.
