Artwork
Samuel Hunt, Jr.
Samuel Hunt, Jr. 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.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1805, this black mezzotint and engraving presents a portrait of Samuel Hunt, Jr. The image is executed on wove paper that has been mounted onto a brown wove backing, giving the work a distinct, layered surface.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is depicted with carefully rendered facial features, an antiquated style of dress, and a characteristic hairstyle of the early nineteenth century. The attention to clothing folds and facial expression suggests an intent to convey the individual’s social standing and personal identity.
Technique & Style
The artist employed mezzotint’s tonal richness combined with fine engraving lines to achieve a naturalistic effect. This approach, popular in the period, allowed for subtle gradations of light and shadow that render the portrait with a convincing three‑dimensional presence.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist known for his portraiture in the early United States. It reflects his practice of creating detailed likenesses for American patrons during his stay in the young republic.
Context
During the early 1800s, mezzotint and engraving were common methods for disseminating portraiture, offering a more affordable alternative to painted likenesses. Saint‑Mémin’s work fits within this broader trend of transatlantic artistic exchange, documenting prominent figures of the era.
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.
