Artwork
Thomas Reade Rootes
Thomas Reade Rootes is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Thomas Reade Rootes is depicted in a profile portrait, created using mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper. The work is now part of the National Portrait Gallery's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Rootes in a sidelong pose, his gaze directed away from the viewer. The level of detail suggests an emphasis on realism.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint and engraving in black, the piece exemplifies a popular artistic technique of its time. Notably, the artist, Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, also created another portrait of Rootes, highlighting a repeated subject choice.
History & Provenance
Originally painted in 1824 by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin, the portrait is now mounted on brown wove paper and housed at the National Portrait Gallery.
Context
For deeper understanding, the broader oeuvre of Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin provides insight into the artistic practices of the 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.
