Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin, Portrait of Mrs. Silas Lee (Temperance Hedge Lee), ca. 1799, charcoal, black crayon, traces of graphite on pink laid paper, 20 5/8 in. x 15 1/8 in. (52.39 cm x 38.42 cm), Saint-Memin emigrated from Paris to escape the French Revolution. Once in New York City, he turned to art professionally in the hope that it could sustain him. With little training, he settled on the 'physionotrace,' a process whereby a sitter's life size profile was mechanically traced with a pencil. With great efficiency and powers of observation, Saint-Memin completed a portrait by filling in the features with crayon. Silas and Temperance Hedge Lee were leading Maine citizens. A supporter of Bowdoin College, Lee served in Congress, these portraits were taken in Philadelphia. Among the hundreds that Saint-Memin drew, Temperance had the rare distinction of being one of the few women depicted. Her jewelry and a headdress, enlivened by the pink paper, ornament an alert and handsome figure. The original gilded frames further enhance the drawings.
Keywords:
Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Mémin, Portrait, Mrs. Silas Lee, Temperance Hedge Lee, ca. 1799, charcoal, black crayon, traces, graphite, pink laid paper, 20 5/8 . x 15 1/8, 52.39 cm x 38.42 cm, Saint-Memin emigrated, Paris, escape, French Revolution. Once, New York City, turned, art professionally, hope, sustain ., little training, settled, 'physionotrace, process whereby, sitter's life size profile, mechanically traced, pencil., great efficiency, powers, observation, Saint-Memin completed, portrait, filling, features, crayon. Silas, Temperance Hedge Lee, leading Maine citizens., supporter, Bowdoin College, Lee served, Congress, portraits, Philadelphia., hundreds, Saint-Memin drew, Temperance, rare distinction, women depicted., jewelry, headdress, enlivened, pink paper, ornament, alert, handsome figure., original gilded frames further enhance, drawings
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