Artwork
Thieubert
Thieubert is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1803, Thieubert is a black‑and‑white print by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint‑Mémin. Executed as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the image is printed on wove paper that has been mounted onto a brown‑toned wove backing. The work presents a single figure in profile and is catalogued as a portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a young man shown in strict profile, his expression solemn and his facial features sharply defined. The portrait’s restrained demeanor and emphasis on the sitter’s outline convey a sense of formality typical of early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture, focusing on character rather than narrative context.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed mezzotint to achieve rich tonal gradations, while the engraved lines add precise detail to the facial features and hair. The combination of these intaglio methods yields a textured surface where light and shadow are rendered with subtle depth, highlighting the artist’s technical proficiency at a relatively early stage in his career.
History & Provenance
The print originates from the artist’s formative period, preceding his later, more widely known works. It was produced on wove paper—a relatively new support in the early 1800s—indicating the artist’s engagement with contemporary materials. The piece has remained in private collections before entering its current institutional setting.
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.
