Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, Group 21

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

National Gallery of Art

Fifteen portrait drawings are arranged in a grid, each showing the upper body of an individual in profile. The people are positioned facing either left or right within circular frames. Each portrait captures the side view of the person's face, highlighting their distinct facial features and hairstyles. The men have various hairstyles typical of an earlier era, some with short hair, some with curls, and others with powdered wigs. There is one woman portrayed in the top right with her hair styled in an updo. They all wear formal clothing; the men in high-collared coats and cravats, and the woman in a high-necked garment with a shawl. The background of each portrait is plain. The images are bordered by a brown matte, and each portrait has the individual's name handwritten beneath it.