Artwork
Roger Gerard Van Polanen
Roger Gerard Van Polanen 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
Executed as a mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned sheet, the image presents the sitter in a frontal, serious pose.
The work is a black-and-white print portraying Roger Gerard Van Polanen from the waist upward. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned sheet, the image presents the sitter in a frontal, serious pose. It belongs to the Saint‑Mémin Collection of Portraits, a grouping of likenesses produced by the French artist Charles B.J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin in the early nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
Roger Gerard Van Polanen appears in a dignified stance, his gaze directed straight ahead and his expression composed. The portrait emphasizes his upper body, suggesting a focus on status and personal bearing rather than narrative context. The restrained demeanor and precise rendering convey a sense of formality typical of portraiture intended to document the individual’s appearance for posterity.
Technique & Style
The image combines mezzotint’s tonal richness with the linear clarity of engraving, allowing subtle gradations of dark and light across the figure’s features. Printed on wove paper, the surface supports fine detail, while the mounting on brown paper provides a contrasting background that accentuates the black ink. Saint‑Mémin’s skillful handling of both intaglio processes results in a clear, lifelike representation.
History & Provenance
Created in 1801, the print was produced by Charles B.J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist known for his series of portrait prints. It entered the Saint‑Mémin Collection of Portraits, a curated assemblage of his works that has been maintained as a reference for early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture. The print’s provenance traces directly to this collection, confirming its authenticity and original context.
Context
During the turn of the nineteenth century, mezzotint and engraving were popular means of disseminating portrait images beyond painted originals. Saint‑Mémin’s series responded to a demand for accessible, high‑quality likenesses among the European elite. This print exemplifies the period’s blend of artistic craftsmanship and emerging reproducibility, reflecting broader trends in portraiture and print culture.
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.
