Sarah Mahon Ormsby

1801

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

Associated Names
Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

Artist, French, 1770 - 1852

The image shows a portrait of a woman's side view, focusing on her head and shoulders. She has delicate facial features, with a straight nose and defined lips. Her hair is styled in an elaborate updo with wavy curls, held in place by decorative combs or hair pins. She is wearing a garment with a high, ruffled collar. The background is a dark circular frame with a label below it.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    mezzotint and engraving in black on wove paper mounted to brown wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection (Gift of William Wilson Corcoran)

  • Dimensions

    image (irregular): 5.56 × 5.56 cm (2 3/16 × 2 3/16 in.)
    sheet (trimmed to plate): 6.83 × 6.19 cm (2 11/16 × 2 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.1584.36.10

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Miles 1994, no. 631

Associated Artworks

See all 15 artworks
The image is a portrait showing the upper half of the body of a man in profile facing to the right. The man is positioned with his head turned slightly to his right, showcasing the side of his face. He has a prominent nose and well-defined jawline, and his hair is styled in a voluminous manner typical of the late 18th or early 19th century, with a distinctive wave and some curls at the nape of his neck. He is wearing a dark jacket with a high collar and a white cravat or neckerchief elegantly wrapped around his neck. No jewelry or accessories are visible in the portrait. The background of the image is a simple circular dark area that contrasts with the light tone of the man's face and clothing, while the larger area surrounding the circle is plain and unadorned. Below the image, there is a name inscribed in a calligraphic style on a beige strip, reading "George Way."

George Way

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1807

The image features 15 circular portrait sketches of individuals from the shoulders up, facing towards the right or left. Each portrait is labeled with the respective person's name underneath. Men have various hairstyles and high collars or cravats, while women have styled hair with ribbons or caps, and wear dresses with ruffles or lace. The sketches are organized in five rows and three columns against a plain background, highlighting each profile.

Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, Group 36

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1801

The image is a portrait of a man shown from the chest upwards, turned in profile facing to the right. He has short, wavy hair and prominent facial features, including a strong nose and a clean-shaven face. He is wearing a high-collared coat with two visible buttons, and a white cravat is visible. The background is a plain, dark circle that contrasts with the lighter tones of his clothing and skin. The edge of the circle meets an area with a beige tone, on which there is handwritten text reading "Chas. W. Goldsborough."

Charles W. Goldsborough

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1807

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist, Dijon, France; Léon Victor Raoul Leclerc, Vicomte de Juigné (the artist's nephew), Dijon, France, 1852; (Henry Stevens, London, England, c. 1859); William W. Corcoran, Washington, DC, c. 1874; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1875; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Bibliography

1862

  • Dexter, Elias. The St. Memin Collection of Portraits; Consisting of Seven Hundred and Sixty Medallion Portraits, Principally of Distinguished Americans. Elias Dexter: New York, 1862, no. 38.

1940

  • Catalogue of Engraved Portraits by Favret de Saint Memin, 1770-1852. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1940, p. 16.

1994

  • Miles, Ellen G. Saint-Mémin and the Neoclassical Profile Portrait in America. Washington, DC: National Portrait Gallery, 1994, p. 365, no. 631.

Inscriptions

lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Mrs. Ormsby. / Sarah

Wikidata ID

Q77262068

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