Artwork
Robert Hazlehurst
Robert Hazlehurst is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1799, this small print measures just over five and a half centimeters square.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1799, this small print measures just over five and a half centimeters square. It presents a profile view of Robert Hazlehurst, an American merchant, rendered in black on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown backing. The composition is tightly focused on the sitter’s facial features, emphasizing his distinctive nose and light, curly hair.
Subject & Meaning
The work records Hazlehurst’s likeness for personal or commercial purposes, reflecting the eighteenth‑century practice of using portrait prints to convey status and identity. By presenting him in strict profile, the image aligns with contemporary conventions that highlighted facial outlines and character, offering a clear, dignified representation of a prominent businessman of the era.
Technique & Style
This hybrid approach exemplifies late‑eighteenth‑century printmaking, where tonal subtlety and precise line work were merged to produce detailed portraiture.
Executed by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, the piece combines mezzotint’s rich tonal gradations with fine engraving lines. The artist achieved depth through careful shading, while the crisp, linear engraving defines the hair and facial contours. This hybrid approach exemplifies late‑eighteenth‑century printmaking, where tonal subtlety and precise line work were merged to produce detailed portraiture.
History & Provenance
The print originates from the workshop of French engraver Saint‑Mémin, who was active in the United States after emigrating during the Revolutionary period. It was likely commissioned or acquired by Hazlehurst or his associates shortly after its creation, serving as a personal record. The piece has remained in collections that focus on early American portraiture and print history.
Context
In the post‑Revolutionary United States, portrait prints served both as personal memorabilia and as a means of disseminating the images of emerging commercial leaders. Hazlehurst’s portrait fits within this broader trend, illustrating how European-trained artists like Saint‑Mémin contributed to the visual culture of the new nation by providing affordable, reproducible likenesses.
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.
