Artwork
William Henry Winder
William Henry Winder is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black-and-white print portraying William Henry Winder, rendered through a combination of mezzotint and engraving on wove paper that has been mounted to a brown wove backing. Executed in 1804, the image presents the sitter in formal attire, his expression composed and solemn, reflecting the conventions of early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
William Henry Winder appears as the sole figure, dressed in the dress of his social rank and positioned in a straightforward, frontal pose. The seriousness of his gaze and the restrained composition suggest an intention to convey status, dignity, and the professional gravitas associated with his public role during that period.
Technique & Style
The artist employed mezzotint to achieve rich tonal gradations, complemented by fine engraving lines that define facial features and clothing details. This hybrid approach, common in the early 1800s, allowed for a high degree of realism while preserving the depth and subtle shading characteristic of mezzotint prints.
History & Provenance
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, a French émigré known for his portrait prints, the piece entered the National Gallery of Art’s collection, where it remains catalogued as part of the museum’s holdings of early American portraiture.
Context
At the turn of the nineteenth century, mezzotint and engraving were favored for reproducing likenesses of notable individuals, offering a relatively affordable means of disseminating images. Saint‑Mémin’s work reflects this trend, bridging French printmaking traditions with the emerging visual culture of the United States.
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.
