Artwork

William Armistead Burwell

William Armistead Burwell, by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, ink, 1806
William Armistead Burwell, by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, ink, 1806

William Armistead Burwell is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This print is a portrait of William Armistead Burwell, created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin in 1806. It is a work in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts Burwell in profile, dressed in simple yet elegant attire, conveying a sense of dignity. The level of detail suggests a focus on realism, capturing the subject's likeness with precision.

Technique & Style

The print combines mezzotint and engraving techniques, requiring great care and skill to achieve the desired level of detail and realism. This method allowed the artist to produce a highly nuanced and textured image.

History & Provenance

The print is now held by the Smithsonian Institution, indicating its significance and preservation for historical and artistic purposes.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.