Artwork
Unidentified Colonel of the French Infantry
Unidentified Colonel of the French Infantry is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This print presents a solitary figure in profile, portraying a French infantry officer whose identity remains unknown.
About this work
This painting shows a profile portrait of a French officer.
The officer is dressed in a formal uniform, which gives us a glimpse into the late 18th century military style. His facial expression is serious, and the details of his uniform are carefully rendered.
Look up the work of artist: Saint-Mémin, Charles B. J. Févret de, to see more portraits like this one.
Overview
This print presents a solitary figure in profile, portraying a French infantry officer whose identity remains unknown. Executed in black mezzotint and engraving, the image is mounted on wove paper, offering a clear view of the subject’s uniform and demeanor. The work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection, representing a typical late‑eighteenth‑century military portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown in full dress uniform, his posture upright and his expression restrained, reflecting the formal conventions of officer portraiture of the period. The anonymity of the colonel suggests the image may have served a broader purpose—perhaps as a generic exemplar of French military authority—rather than commemorating a specific individual.
Technique & Style
Created through a combination of mezzotint and line engraving, the print achieves a rich tonal range, with deep shadows contrasting against delicate highlights. The mezzotint technique allows for subtle gradations in the fabric’s texture, while the engraved lines define facial features and uniform details, resulting in a balanced, highly finished image characteristic of Saint‑Mémin’s printmaking.
History & Provenance
The work was produced by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist active in the late 1700s who specialized in portrait prints. It entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition (date unspecified), where it remains catalogued as an example of French military portraiture from the Revolutionary era.
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.
