Artwork
Thomas Weston Thompson
Thomas Weston Thompson is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition concentrates on the sitter’s upper torso, captured in a formal, upright stance typical of early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.
This portrait print presents Thomas Weston Thompson, rendered by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin between 1805 and 1807. Executed as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the image occupies a modest 5.72 × 5.56 cm of wove paper, later mounted on a brown‑toned backing. The composition concentrates on the sitter’s upper torso, captured in a formal, upright stance typical of early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
Thomas Weston Thompson is depicted with the dignified bearing expected of a public figure of his era. His hair, styled in the fashion of the early 1800s, frames a composed facial expression, suggesting both personal gravitas and the social conventions of respectability that the artist sought to convey.
Technique & Style
The work merges mezzotint’s soft tonal gradations with the line precision of engraving, allowing subtle shading of flesh against a stark black background. Executed on fine wove paper, the print’s delicate surface enhances the nuanced transitions of light, while the small format demands meticulous handling of detail within a confined space.
History & Provenance
Created during a period when Saint‑Mémin was active in the United States, the portrait reflects his practice of producing intimate likenesses for American elites. The print’s mounting on brown wove paper indicates a later conservation effort, preserving the original black‑on‑white image while providing structural support for its continued display.
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.
