Saint-Mémin Collection of Portraits, Group 53

Charles B. J. Févret de Saint-Mémin

National Gallery of Art

This image shows fifteen round cameo-style portraits of individuals in profile from the side, focusing on their heads and shoulders. Each person appears to be seated and displaying distinct facial features and hairstyles typical of the late 18th or early 19th century. Most individuals are men wearing formal attire, including high collars, cravats, and in some cases, military uniform elements such as epaulettes. One woman is depicted wearing a headwrap with curly hair. The portraits are monochromatic and presented in a grid over a cardboard backing. The backgrounds in the portraits are plain or softly shaded, emphasizing the individuals depicted. The cardboard backing contains text, presumably identifying some of the individuals by names like "Comeagues" and "Tarleton Bates."