Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, Group 41

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

National Gallery of Art

The image is a collage of fifteen circular portraits arranged in a grid of three rows and five columns. Each portrait shows a man's profile view, extending from the shoulders to the top of the head. The men are positioned upright in a seated or standing posture, looking forward. Their facial features include prominent noses, pointed chins, and uniform expressions. They have hairstyles typical of the late 18th to early 19th century, with most having wavy, side-swept hair or slightly curled styles. All the men are dressed in dark suits with high-collared white shirts that have elaborate cravats or neckties. There is no visible jewelry or objects held. The background for each portrait is the same, a simple light-colored circle, and the entire grid is mounted on a plain piece of cardboard or paper with hand-written names underneath each man's portrait.