Artwork
Pierre Auguste Charles Bourguignon Derbigny
Pierre Auguste Charles Bourguignon Derbigny 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. This work is a black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, later mounted on a brown wove backing.
About this work
Overview
This work is a black mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, later mounted on a brown wove backing. It reproduces a portrait of Pierre Auguste Charles Bourguignon Derbigny that was originally painted in 1805 by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint‑Mémin. The print itself bears no date, but it follows the composition of the earlier oil portrait, which resides in the National Portrait Gallery.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts Derbigny in formal attire, his features rendered with careful attention to facial expression and the texture of his clothing. The dignified pose and detailed rendering suggest an intention to convey his social standing and personal character, typical of portraiture intended for public or official recognition in the early nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
The combination of these intaglio methods creates a textured surface that avoids a flat appearance, enhancing the three‑dimensional illusion of the portrait.
Executed in mezzotint and engraving, the print achieves a rich tonal range through the mezzotint’s capacity for deep shadows and subtle gradations, while the engraved lines define the intricate details of the subject’s attire and facial features. The combination of these intaglio methods creates a textured surface that avoids a flat appearance, enhancing the three‑dimensional illusion of the portrait.
History & Provenance
The original portrait was painted by Saint‑Mémin in 1805 and is currently held by the National Portrait Gallery. The mezzotint and engraving were produced later, though the exact date of their creation remains unknown. Their existence reflects the common practice of reproducing notable portraits for wider distribution during the period.
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.
