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.74.39.16.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 18th, French-born artist Charles Balthazar Févret de Saintémin captured the likeness of Maria Jay in this delicate 1798 print, now housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Saint-Mémin, who emigrated to America amid the French Revolution, specialized in intimate profile portraits that reflected the refined tastes of the early American elite. Maria Jay, depicted here as a poised female subject, embodies the elegance of the era's prominent families. As a print from the Smithsonian Collection—generously gifted by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon—this work highlights the artist's innovat...