Artwork
Soissons
Soissons is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1807, this small black-and-white print measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1807, this small black-and-white print measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side. Executed by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, it combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown backing. The work is catalogued within the Corcoran Collection and is offered as a fine‑art print.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a solitary oval portrait of a man turned toward the left. His dark coat merges with the surrounding darkness, leaving illumination only on his cheek and forehead. The limited lighting and restrained composition focus attention on the sitter’s facial features, suggesting a quiet, introspective presence.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed mezzotint to achieve deep, velvety blacks, complementing the finer engraved lines that model the face. The process involved roughening a metal plate with countless tiny dots, then smoothing areas to create tonal gradations, before incising precise curves for detail. The result is a delicate balance of rich shadows and subtle gray tones within a compact format.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Corcoran Collection, a significant repository of American and European works, where it remains documented. Its 1807 date places it among Saint‑Mémin’s early experiments with mezzotint, a medium he helped popularize among French émigré artists working in the United States during the post‑Revolutionary 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.
