Artwork
William Sanford
William Sanford is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black‑and‑white print depicting William Sanford, executed in mezzotint and engraving. It is printed on wove paper that has been mounted onto a brown wove backing. The image presents the sitter in formal attire, rendered with careful attention to facial expression and clothing folds.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures William Sanford, a gentleman whose composed demeanor is emphasized through the gentle rendering of his face and the dignified posture of his attire. The composition reflects the early‑19th‑century interest in individualized likenesses that convey personal status and character.
Technique & Style
Combining mezzotint’s tonal richness with the line precision of engraving, the artist achieves a nuanced gradation of light and shadow. The use of wove paper, both for the print and its brown mounting, provides a smooth surface that enhances the fine detail of the folds and facial features.
History & Provenance
Created by Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin, the print belongs to his extensive series of portraiture. It entered the Corcoran Collection and is catalogued within the broader Saint‑Mémin Collection of Portraits, documenting the artist’s systematic approach to portrait prints.
Context
During the period when mezzotint and engraving were popular reproductive media, Saint‑Mémin employed these techniques to produce affordable yet high‑quality likenesses for a growing market of patrons seeking personal representation.
Legacy
The piece exemplifies the collaborative potential of mezzotint and engraving, influencing later printmakers who sought to balance tonal depth with linear clarity in 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.
