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. Created around 1800, this black-and-white print by Charles B.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1800, this black-and-white print by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Méin presents a profile view of a man’s head and upper torso. Rendered on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown‑toned sheet, the image is confined within a small circular format, characteristic of the artist’s series of intimate portrait studies.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter remains unidentified, offering no biographical clues beyond his attire: a dark coat paired with a light‑coloured cravat. The profile pose, a convention of the period, emphasizes the individual’s facial features and posture, inviting viewers to contemplate the anonymity and the universal qualities of portraiture.
Technique & Style
Executed as a mezzotint combined with engraving, the work exploits the tonal richness of mezzotint to model shadows, while fine engraved lines define details such as the cravat’s folds. The contrast between the deep blacks and the paper’s mid‑tones creates a subtle three‑dimensional effect within the limited circular frame.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to a larger collection of small circular portraits produced by Saint‑Méin, an artist known for his skill in miniature portraiture during the early nineteenth century. Though the specific ownership trail is not recorded, the work has been preserved as part of the artist’s broader output of printed likenesses.
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.
