Artwork
Thomas Ludwell Lee Brant
Thomas Ludwell Lee Brant 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 in 1805, this print presents Thomas Ludwell Lee Brant in a profile view. Executed as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the image is mounted on wove paper and framed within a neutral circular border. The work belongs to the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it is catalogued as a portrait print rather than a painted canvas.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Thomas Ludwell Lee Brant, is shown wearing a crisp, high‑collared white shirt beneath a dark coat, attire typical of an early‑19th‑century gentleman. The profile pose, common in contemporary portraiture, emphasizes the individual's facial features and social standing, offering a restrained yet dignified representation.
Technique & Style
The artist, Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, employed a mezzotint ground to achieve rich tonal gradations, then overlaid fine engraving lines to sharpen details. This dual approach allowed for deep shadows alongside precise rendering of clothing folds and facial contours, characteristic of early American printmaking that blended tonal depth with linear clarity.
History & Provenance
Printed in the United States shortly after the turn of the 19th century, the work entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century. Its documented provenance traces back to private collections of Brant’s descendants before being transferred to the museum, where it remains on view as part of the portrait print series.
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.
