Portrait of Jean-Léon Gérôme

Description:

Stephen Ferris etched a dapper J. L. Gérôme (1824–1904) in 1899, near the end of Gérôme’s very successful career as painter and sculptor. Ferris had admired the French artist’s work for many years, at least since 1863 when he named his son after him. Although Ferris never actually met Gérôme, the two artists had corresponded. For this print Ferris used a photograph he had received from Gérôme. He then sent Gérôme trial proofs for comments and requested a signature to include in the final impressions, which appears here at lower left.

Gérôme congratulated Ferris on the portrait as “work done with great care and great talent—the effect is very good and very firm. If I had any criticism to make, I would reserve it for the background, which is a little too even, and for the clothing, which has a little softness in the execution.” Gérôme also suggested that the highlight on the order which appears on his left breast and is not particularly noticeable in the photograph, be less bright. The order remains brightly lit, possibly Ferris’s tribute to Gérôme.

Date Made: 1879Date Made: 1899

Graphic Artist: Ferris, Stephen James

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Subject: Portraits

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Graphic Arts, Ferris Collection, Communications, Art

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Ferris Collection

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: GA.14396.01Accession Number: 94830Catalog Number: 14396.01

Object Name: printetching

Physical Description: paper (overall material)ink (overall material)Measurements: image: 34 cm x 21 cm; 13 3/8 in x 8 1/4 insheet: 40.5 cm x 28 cm; 15 15/16 in x 11 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-b1ff-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1001680

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