Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (1770–1852) was born in France and fled the country during the French Revolution. He arrived in the United States in 1793 and lived there until 1814. During this time he became an expert in the use of the physionotrace instrument which was a French invented device designed to trace a persons profile or silhouette. The instrument used the live sitting person to record the profile. Saint-Memin became so adept with the use of the technique that he is credited with producing over one thousand life portraits including many of the most prominent figures of the era including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Alexander Macomb and many others. Saint-Memin’s portraits are exhibited in The Philadelphia Art Museum, The Smithsonian, The National Gallery of Art and are featured in museums and private collections around the world.

Yellow Garage dealer Richard Worth offers a pair of framed Saint-Memin engravings of two of John Jay’s children from circa 1808. John Jay played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and the founding of the country. The frames show age appropriate wear. Both etchings are in excellent condition portraying in high detail the siblings dressed in period costume. The portraits are outstanding examples of Saint-Memin’s artistry as one of the best known miniature silhouette artists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Measures: 6 1\2” X 7 1\2” Erame
2 3\4” X 2 3\4” Engraving