Artwork
Theodore Sedgwick
Theodore Sedgwick is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Theodore Sedgwick is depicted in a portrait created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1801, utilizing the techniques of mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, later mounted to brown wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of the work is Theodore Sedgwick, presented in a detailed portrait. The artwork's significance lies in its representation of Sedgwick within the broader context of Saint-Mémin's portrait collection.
Technique & Style
The portrait employs mezzotint and engraving, techniques notable for their ability to produce multiple copies with rich tonal depths. The level of detail achieved highlights Saint-Mémin's skill, particularly given the work's age.
History & Provenance
Created in 1801, the portrait is part of the Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, a series unified by the artist's consistent use of mezzotint and engraving techniques.
Context
As part of a larger collection of similarly executed portraits, the work reflects Saint-Mémin's approach to capturing contemporaries through a standardized yet detailed method, facilitating mass production of identical images.
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.
