Samuel P. Avery

Art Historical Context

Behold the elegant etching *Samuel P. Avery* (1876–98), a portrait print from the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints collection. Created primarily by French etcher Léopold Flameng with associations to Samuel Putnam Avery Sr. (the subject himself) and portraitist Raimundo de Madrazo Garreta, this work the refined likeness of Avery, a prominent figure in 19th-century American cultural circles. Measuring 12 13/16 × 9 1/4 inches, its sheet size allows for intimate appreciation of the intricate details achieved through etching—a masterful intaglio technique where acid bites into a metal plate to create rich, tonal lines ideal for reproducing painterly portraits. Etching flourished in the late 19th century as a democratic medium, bridging fine art and wider audiences by faithfully translating paintings into affordable prints. Flameng, renowned for his precise reproductive etchings, likely drew from Madrazo's painterly style, blending Spanish realism with French elegance to convey Avery's dignified presence. This piece exemplifies the era's portraiture tradition, honoring influential men whose patronage shaped art collecting and connoisseurship. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1917, *Samuel P. Avery* reflects the Met's commitment to preserving prints that document cultural history. Visitors will delight in its subtle textures, evoking the Gilded Age's sophistication.

About the Artist

Léopold Flameng|Samuel Putnam Avery Sr.|Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta · 1831–1911

Léopold Flameng (1831–1911) was one of the most accomplished and influential French engravers of the 19th century, whose exceptional technical mastery and artistic sensitivity made him the preeminent interpreter of paintings by old and modern masters through the medium of engraving. Born in Brussels on November 22, 1831, to French parents, and dying at Courgent, near Paris, on September 5, 1911, F...