Meriwether Lewis

1803/1807

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 man depicted in profile from the shoulders up, facing to the right. His position is upright, and he appears to be seated or standing, though only the upper part of his body is visible. The man's facial features include a straight nose and a firm chin, and his hair is short, curly, and light in color. He is wearing a high-collared, dark coat with large buttons visible on the side and a lighter shirt collar peeking from under the coat. The background is a plain, circular area, distinct from the rectangular border surrounding it. At the bottom of the image is a strip with script text reading "Meriwether Lewis."

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): 5.72 × 5.56 cm (2 1/4 × 2 3/16 in.)
    sheet (trimmed to plate): 6.83 × 6.19 cm (2 11/16 × 2 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.1584.31.6

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Miles 1994, no. 506

  • Series Title

    Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits

Associated Artworks

See all 15 artworks
The image shows a side profile portrait of a man from the shoulders up. The man is positioned facing right, displaying a classic profile pose. His facial features include a prominent nose and a slightly open mouth, with a strong jawline and sideburns. His hair is short, curly, and neatly styled. He is wearing a dark coat with a high collar, which is layered over a white shirt with a voluminous neckcloth. There is no visible jewelry or objects being held by the person. The background is a plain, blank circular area that creates a contrast, highlighting the subject. The lower part of the image has a sepia-toned border with the handwritten name "Ths. Semmes."

Thomas Semmes

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1805

The image shows a grid of twelve black-and-white portrait illustrations. Each profile displays the head and shoulders of different individuals in circular frames. Each individual faces right, showing their facial profiles. The individuals have various hairstyles, with some styled away from the forehead or with curls. Some have mature features, and a few have lighter-colored hair. They are dressed in formal attire like high-collared jackets and cravats, with one person in a military uniform. There are no visible jewelry or objects. The background of each circular frame is a smooth gradient. Below each portrait, the person's name is handwritten, such as “Th. Jefferson” or “Meriwether Lewis.” The portraits are set against a plain, sepia-toned background.

Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, Group 31

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1803

The image is an engraving of a man in profile facing right. The focus is on his head and upper torso, showing prominent facial features including a nose and chin, short wavy hair, and formal attire consisting of a dark coat with a high collar and a light cravat. The man is not wearing any jewelry. The background is plain with a circular dark shading. Below the image, the name "Th. Woodhouse" is inscribed on a brown strip of paper.

Thomas Woodhouse

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1805

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. 420.

1940

  • Catalogue of Engraved Portraits by Favret de Saint Memin, 1770-1852. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1940, p. 14.

1942

  • Norfleet, Fillmore. Saint-Mémin in Virginia: Portraits and Biographies. Richmond, Virginia: The Dietz Press, 1942, pp. 183-184.

1994

  • Miles, Ellen G. Saint-Mémin and the Neoclassical Profile Portrait in America. Washington, DC: National Portrait Gallery, 1994, p. 339, no. 506.

Inscriptions

lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: Menwether [sic] Lewis.

Wikidata ID

Q77015953

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