Artwork
Walter Herron
Walter Herron is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1808, this small black-and-white print measures just under six centimeters square.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1808, this small black-and-white print measures just under six centimeters square. It presents a single male sitter in profile, rendered with the fine tonal range characteristic of mezzotint combined with engraving lines. The image is executed on wove paper, later mounted onto a brown wove backing for support.
Subject & Meaning
The figure wears a high‑collared coat with pronounced lapels and a neatly tied cravat, attire typical of the early nineteenth‑century gentleman. His turned head and solemn expression suggest a formal, perhaps commemorative purpose, emphasizing status and personal dignity rather than narrative content.
Technique & Style
The work merges mezzotint’s rich, velvety shadows with the crisp linear detail of engraving, allowing subtle gradations in the face and fabric while preserving sharp edges on the clothing. The monochrome palette focuses attention on texture and form, a common approach in portrait prints of the period.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French artist known for his portrait prints after the Revolutionary era, the piece reflects his practice of producing compact, collectible likenesses. Its mounting on brown wove paper indicates a later conservation step, typical of institutional handling of delicate prints.
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.
