Artwork
Unidentified Man
Unidentified Man is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1800, this small circular print combines mezzotint and engraving techniques on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned backing. Executed in black, the image presents a profile view of a man’s head and upper torso, distinguished by a dark coat and a light‑colored cravat. The work belongs to a series of similarly sized circular portraits produced by the artist.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is rendered in profile, showing only the left side of the face and shoulders. Attired in a dark coat with a contrasting light cravat, the sitter’s expression is rendered with careful attention to facial features, suggesting a focus on individual likeness rather than narrative content. The anonymity of the subject leaves the portrait open to interpretation as a study of character.
Technique & Style
The print merges mezzotint’s tonal richness with the line precision of engraving, allowing subtle gradations of shade within a monochrome palette.
The print merges mezzotint’s tonal richness with the line precision of engraving, allowing subtle gradations of shade within a monochrome palette. Executed on fine wove paper, the image is mounted on a brown sheet, enhancing contrast. Despite its diminutive diameter, the artist achieved notable detail in the facial features and clothing folds, demonstrating skill in manipulating fine lines and tonal areas.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, the work is part of a broader collection of small circular portraits he produced in the early nineteenth century. While the identity of the sitter remains unknown, the series reflects the artist’s interest in intimate, individualized portraiture during the post‑Revolutionary 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.
