Unidentified Man

1798-1803

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

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

Artist, French, 1770 - 1852

The image shows a man's head and upper torso in profile, facing right. He has short wavy hair, sideburns, a prominent nose, and a subtle expression. He wears a dark, high-collared coat with large buttons and a light-colored cravat. The background is a dark oval, contrasting with the lighter border. No jewelry or distinct objects are visible.

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): 6.67 × 6.19 cm (2 5/8 × 2 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.1584.55.2

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Miles 1994, no. 854

Associated Artworks

See all 15 artworks
The image depicts a profile portrait of a man showcasing the upper part of his body. he is positioned in profile, facing right. His facial features are detailed, with a notable nose and chin. His hair is styled in a traditional manner with thick, wavy locks styled back, and he has distinct sideburns. He is dressed in a dark coat with a high collar and a visible button, along with a white cravat tied in a bow around his neck. The background is circular, dark, and textured, contrasting with the lighter paper on which the portrait is drawn.

Unidentified Man

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1798

The image is a compilation of fifteen engraved portraits of individual men shown in profile facing to the left. The men vary in facial features, hairstyles, and clothing typical of the late 18th to early 19th centuries, featuring high collared shirts and dark coats. The portraits are arranged in a grid of three rows with five portraits each, mounted on a tan or beige backing paper. The names “Masson” and “Florim? Masson.” are inscribed below the bottom right portraits.

Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, Group 55

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1797

The image shows a profile view of a man's head and upper torso within an oval-shaped frame. The man is positioned facing the right side of the image. He has short, wavy hair and a prominent facial profile with a straight nose and rounded chin. His expression is neutral. The man is dressed in a period-style coat with a high collar, fastened with buttons, and a neatly tied cravat or neckcloth. There are no visible pieces of jewelry or objects. The background is textured and muted in color, providing contrast against the silhouette of the man, and the entire portrait is set against a plain, light-colored backdrop.

James Latimer Cuthbert

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1798

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

1994

  • Miles, Ellen G. Saint-Mémin and the Neoclassical Profile Portrait in America. Washington, DC: National Portrait Gallery, 1994, p. 411, no. 854.

Wikidata ID

Q77262657

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