Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Accession Number
S/NPG.74.39.5.47
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Frederick Kuhl* (1802), a striking profile portrait print by French-born artist Charles Balthazar Févret de Saintémin (1770–1852). Capturing the likeness of Frederick Kuhl, a prominent male leader in early America, this work exemplifies the era's fascination with personal commemoration amid the young nation's growth. Saint-Mémin, who fled the French Revolution and settled in the United States, an innovative technique using a physiognotrace—a mechanical device that traced silhouettes for precise engraving. This print medium made elegant, affordable portraits accessible beyond the elite...