Artwork
Thomas Blount
Thomas Blount 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 by Charles B.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1807 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, this print depicts Thomas Blount in a formal portrait. Executed as a mezzotint and engraving in black ink, the image is printed on wove paper that has been mounted onto a brown‑toned wove backing. The composition is framed by a simple circular field, and the artist’s signature appears beneath the sitter’s likeness.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is presented with a pronounced nose, tightly curled hair and attire that signals a position of wealth. His clothing, rendered with careful attention to the drapery, conveys the social standing of a gentleman of the early nineteenth century, offering a visual record of personal identity and status.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Mémin employed the mezzotint process, a tonal method that allows for subtle gradations of light and shadow, combined with fine engraving lines to define details such as fabric folds and facial features. The monochrome palette and smooth circular background focus the viewer’s eye on the sitter’s expression and attire.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in the United States during a period when Saint‑Mémin, a French émigré, was active in portrait printmaking. It has survived as a mounted print, indicating that it was likely intended for display or collection in a domestic setting, and it remains catalogued under the artist’s name in several print collections.
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.
