John Dennis

1803-1805

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

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

Artist, French, 1770 - 1852

The image shows a side profile of an individual, with the portrait capturing most of the upper torso and head. The person is positioned facing to the right, looking straight ahead. The subject has medium-length hair styled in waves. The facial features include a prominent nose and pronounced chin. The individual is wearing a dark overcoat with large buttons, and a high-collared white shirt or cravat is visible underneath. The background of the image is a plain, circular vignette. The paper below the vignette contains handwritten text, possibly the names "Th. Gilpin" and "John Denks," while the edges of the paper show signs of aging with a few stains.

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

    2015.19.1584.37.7

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Miles 1994, no. 251

Associated Artworks

See all 15 artworks
The image is a black-and-white portrait showing a side profile of a person's upper body. The person is facing to the right, with curly short hair. The facial features are visible, including a slightly open mouth and a prominent nose. The person is wearing a high-collared shirt with layers, underneath a dark coat with a button near the shoulder. There is no visible jewelry or objects. The background is plain, with a dark circular vignette on a lighter rectangular canvas, and a cream-colored border around it. The name "Sullivan Gray" is handwritten below the portrait.

Sulivan Gray

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1807

The image is a collage of 12 black-and-white portrait engravings arranged in four rows. Each portrait depicts a different man's side profile. The individuals are shown from the head to the upper chest, with formal clothing. The hairstyles vary slightly, and the majority have short, neat hair. The background is a plain circle behind each portrait. Below each portrait, there are handwritten names of the individuals. The collage is set against a uniform beige background.

Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, Group 37

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

1802

The image is a profile engraving of a man facing to the right. He has a prominent nose, deep-set eyes, and mature facial features. His hair is wavy, gray, and brushed back. He is wearing a high-collared coat and a cravat, and the background is a dark circle. The engraving features the inscription "CHAs W. PEALe." and "Museum Philadelphia."

Charles Willson Peale

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. 499.

1940

  • Catalogue of Engraved Portraits by Favret de Saint Memin, 1770-1852. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1940, p. 12.

1994

  • Miles, Ellen G. Saint-Mémin and the Neoclassical Profile Portrait in America. Washington, DC: National Portrait Gallery, 1994, p. 288, no. 251.

Inscriptions

lower center mount in black ink by unknown hand: th. Gilpin. / John Dennis

Wikidata ID

Q77262102

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