John Paul Jones, Commodore au Service des Etats Unis de l'Amérique (John Paul Jones, Commodore in the Service of the United States of America)

Carl Guttenberg, after Claude-Jacques Notté

National Gallery of Art

The image features an upper-body illustration of a person. The individual is positioned slightly turned to their left. They are facing outward towards the viewer. The subject appears to be male and is wearing a tricorn hat, which is a classic naval hat, and a tailored double-breasted coat, typical of the 18th-century naval attire. His facial features include a slightly upturned nose and a stern expression. The textures of his long hair extend from beneath the hat. Surrounding the individual are naval elements, such as ropes and masts. The setting appears to be on a ship, with the presence of smoke or clouds suggesting a possible battle. The background is filled with rigging and sails, reinforcing the nautical theme. The illustration is framed in a patterned border, resembling an inset within the larger beige-toned paper sheet. Beneath the image, there is text in French providing a description related to the person's military rank and historic significance.