Artwork
William Madison
William Madison is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1807 print, executed in mezzotint and engraving on wove paper, presents a portrait of William Madison. The image shows him turned toward the right, his hair styled in loose waves and framed by sideburns. He is dressed in a formal jacket with a high, standing collar and a white cravat, conveying the dignified bearing of an early‑American public figure.
Subject & Meaning
William Madison, a notable politician of the early United States, is rendered with a composed expression that suggests both authority and restraint. The careful rendering of his facial features and attire underscores his status and the respect accorded to him in the civic sphere of the post‑Revolutionary era.
Technique & Style
The work combines mezzotint’s rich tonal gradations with the linear precision of engraving, allowing subtle modeling of flesh and the crisp delineation of clothing folds. Executed on wove paper mounted to a brown backing, the print’s surface texture enhances the depth of shadow and highlights the artist’s meticulous approach to detail.
History & Provenance
Created by French artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint‑Mémin, who specialized in portrait prints of American elites, the image was likely produced for distribution among Madison’s acquaintances and political peers. It remains an example of transatlantic artistic exchange during the early nineteenth century.
Context
The portrait belongs to a series of prints Saint‑Mémin made of prominent Americans while traveling in the United States between 1800 and 1805. These works served both as personal commemorations and as visual records of the emerging nation’s leadership, reflecting contemporary tastes for refined, yet accessible, portraiture.
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.
