Artwork

William Henry Hill

William Henry Hill, by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, ink, 1799
William Henry Hill, by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin, ink, 1799

William Henry Hill is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This 1799 portrait by Charles B.

About this work

The painting shows William Henry Hill in a left profile.
He's dressed in simple clothes.
His face is the focus.

The artist used a lot of detail to make Hill look real.
The portrait is from 1799, which is interesting because it was a different time.
The way the artist made the portrait is also notable.

You can learn more about this technique by looking into engraving.

Overview

This 1799 portrait by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin is a print of William Henry Hill. Created using mezzotint and engraving techniques, it is now in the public domain.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts William Henry Hill in left profile, dressed simply, with his face as the primary focus. The level of detail achieved by the artist lends a sense of realism to the subject.

Technique & Style

The print combines mezzotint and engraving in black on wove paper, mounted to brown wove paper. The artist's use of these techniques results in a highly detailed representation of Hill.

History & Provenance

Dating to 1799, the portrait is a product of its time, reflecting the artistic and technical capabilities of the late 18th century.

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.