Artwork
Trigant, Jr.
Trigant, Jr. is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The print's visual depth is achieved through fine lines and soft shadows, with subtle cross-hatching capturing the play of light on the subject's attire.
Trigant, Jr. is a print created in 1801 by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, combining mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper. The work portrays a serene young man dressed in a neat coat, characterized by a calm, nearly expressionless face. The print's visual depth is achieved through fine lines and soft shadows, with subtle cross-hatching capturing the play of light on the subject's attire.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of the print, Trigant, Jr., is depicted in a state of calmness, with a nearly blank expression. The artist's focus on capturing the subtleties of the sitter's demeanor suggests an emphasis on psychological nuance, though the specific context or story behind the portrait is not immediately conveyed by the image alone.
Technique & Style
Saint-Mémin employed mezzotint, a relatively novel technique in early 19th-century America, alongside traditional engraving. The mezzotint contributes to the print's soft, nuanced shading, while cross-hatching is used to define textures and capture the interplay of light, notably evident in the detailing of the subject's collar.
History & Provenance
Created in 1801, Trigant, Jr. is part of the Corcoran Collection. Saint-Mémin, having learned mezzotint in Europe, introduced this technique to America, making this work an early example of mezzotint adoption in the region.
Context
The warm, brown-toned paper base of the print, mounted on brown wove paper, gives it a nostalgic appearance reminiscent of aged newsprint. This presentation complements the subject's serene portrayal, enhancing the overall sense of historical depth.
Legacy
As one of the early mezzotints in America, Trigant, Jr. signifies Saint-Mémin's role in popularizing this European technique in the United States. The print demonstrates the artist's skill in blending mezzotint's expressive shading with engraving's precision, contributing to the development of printmaking in early American art.
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.
