John F. Delaplaine

Art Historical Context

This 1810 print by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin the likeness of John F. Delaplaine, a merchant whose portrait reflects the growing American middle class in the early republic Saint-Mémin, a émigré artist active in the United States, specialized in profile portraits that documented merchants, statesmen, and other notable figures during the Federal era. His works often served both as personal mementos and records of a young nation’s emerging identity. Executed as a print, the piece highlights the artist’s innovative use of the physiognotrace mechanical device that traced accurate silhouettes—which he then engraved for reproduction. This technique allowed for precise, affordable likenesses that circulated widely among families and institutions. Now part of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery collection through a generous gift, the portrait offers visitors a window into early 19th-century American commerce and the artistic methods that preserved its faces.