Portret van Jean Hamon

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Jean Hamon is a refined steel engraving by François Jacquesquevauviller, a French engraver active in the early 19th (1793–1848). during a transformative era spanning the Napoleonic Wars and the July Monarchy, this portrait Jean Hamon, likely a notable figure of the time, in a precise and dignified manner typical of period portraiture. Such engravings served as accessible reproductions, disseminating images of intellectuals, professionals, or public servants through books, albums, and personal collections. The medium—steel engraving—marks a technological leap from traditional copper plates. Introduced around 1800, steel allowed for finer lines, greater durability, and larger print runs, revolutionizing book illustration and portrait dissemination in the Romantic era. Dequevauviller's technique would have emphasized intricate details in facial features, clothing, and expression, evoking the sitter's character with remarkable clarity on a modest plate size of 224 × 153 mm. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228 of the Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique, this work boasts prestigious provenance, highlighting its value in institutional holdings. It exemplifies how 19th-century prints bridged art and documentation, preserving likenesses for posterity and offering visitors a window into Enlightenment-era individualism.