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.74.39.12.12
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Tunis Craven** (1805), a refined profile portrait print by French-born artist Charles Balthazar Févret de Saintémin (1770–1852), captures the likeness of its namesake subject. Saint-Mémin, who fled the French Revolution to establish himself in Philadelphia, specialized in precise, silhouette-style portraits that became a hallmark of early American culture. This work, rendered in print medium, exemplifies his technique of translating detailed drawings into engravings, enabling affordable reproductions for collectors and families. Set against the backdrop of 1805—a pivotal time in the young U...