The St. Memin Collection of Portraits; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 9, No. 3 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** The St. Memin Collection of Portraits William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 3. (Jan., 1901), pp. 145-151. THE ST. MEMIN COLLECTION OF PORTRAITS To no other foreigner have Virginians more reason to be grateful than to Charles Balthazar Julien Fevre de Saint Memin. To his indefatigable labors we owe the preservation of the features of many prominent persons in all the walks of life, about the commencement of the present century. He was of an ancient famly of Dijon, France, and was born March 12, 1770. He entered the royal army during the French Revolution, and when the army was disbanded in 1793 he fled to America. Here he devoted himself to making profile portraits after a manner unknown in this country. A compatriot named Chretien had invented a machine in 1786, which he called a physionotrace, by means of which the human profile could be traced with mathe- matical accuracy. St. Memin constructed such a machine with his own hands, and also made a pantograph by which to reduce the original design. His life-size portraits on pink paper, finished in black crayon, were reduced by the pantograph to a size small enough to be engraved within a perfect circle two inches in diameter. The machine, of course, only gave the out- line, the finishing being done in the one case with the crayon, and in the other with the graver and roulette. By this means he took in this country more than eight hundred portraits, of which upwards of a fourth were portraits of Virginians. Most of his work in Virginia was done during the period of the governorship (December 1805 to December 1808) of William H. Cabell, to whom St. Memin was indebted for many courtesies. Richmond was then a place of only 4,000 inhabitants, but there were in it many persons of education and refinement. It was the frequent resort also of the rich country planters. The artist sold the drawing and engraved plate, with a dozen proofs, to the sitter for thrity-three dollars, but he was careful to reserve a few proofs of each portrait for his own use. These proofs remained in his possession till his death at Dijon in 1852, when a set of them, representing 760 portraits, was purchased by Mr. James B. Robertson, of New York. After a while the set passed to Elias Dexter, Esq., who had them photographed and published, in 1862, prefixed by a memoir of M. de St. Memin, and biographical notices of the persons who constitute the collec- Page 146. tion. After the death of Mr. Dexter they became the property, in 1898, of Hampton L. Carson, Esq., of Philadelphia. But two collections of St. Memin's have been known to have been made, the one now in the Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, and this, which was the artists's own selection of proof impressions. The names were written by the artist over the proofs, and were not engraved upon the plates. Being, therefore, an afterwork, some mistakes were made by the artist in identifying the por- traits. Most of these errors wsere corrected by Mr. Dexter in his catalogue. But it will be observed that neither of the two collections is complete, anda the Editor would be glad to receive information of any portraits by St. Memin not embraced in the catalogue below, which comprises, for the most part, the Virginians represented in the collection of Hampton L. Carson, Esq., and as published by Mr. Dexte, who previously owned it. LIST OF VIRGINIA PEOPLE WHOSE PORTRAITS WERE ENGRAVED BY ST. MEMIN. The number in the collection, the person's name, and the date when engraving was made. 10. Thomas Jefferson. 1804. 12. Mrs. Law, eldest granddaughter of Martha Washington and wife of Thomas Law, of Washington, brother of Lord Ellenborough. 1805. 13. George Washington. 14. George Washington. 26. Mrs. Yeaton, Alexandria. 1807. 30. Mrs. Elizabeth Selden Wickham, wife of John Wickham, Richmond, 1808. 39. Hon. Matthew Clay, M.C. 1800. 205. Hodge, merchant in Richmond. 1808. 204. Philip Pfister, bookseller in Richmond. 1808. 221. Major Charles H. Smith, son of Larkin Smith, Norfolk, Va.; died 1848. 1808. 247. Mrs. Bell, originally Miss Walker, of Petersburg. She married, 1, John Bell, of Petersburg; 2, Edmund W. Rootes, of Richmond; 3, Dr. Robert B. Starke. 1808. 260. L. H. Girardin, professor in William and Mary College. 1807. Page 147. 285. Martha Jefferson Tyler, sister of President Tyler and wife of Thomas E. Waggaman(1). 1808. 358. Dr. Ashton Alexander, Baltimore, 1804. 374. Joseph Tayloe. 1806. 379. Hon. Richard Brent, U. S. Senator. 1803. 393. Thomas L. L. Brent, Richmond, Va. 1805. Secretary of Legation at Madrid, 1814. 403. William Augustine Washington. 1806. 406. Henry Lee (Light Horse Harry). 1807. 408. John Tayloe, of Mount Airy, Richmond Co. 1806. 409. Col. William Brent, Clerk of the Courts in District of Columbia; died 1848. 1806. 414. George Washington Parke Custis. 1808. 416. Isaac A. Coles; born February 15, 1780. Secretary of President Jefferson; colonel in 1812. 1808. 420. Meriwether Lewis, explorer. 1805. 441. Thomas Jefferson. 1805. 440. George R. Poindexter, U. S. Senator from Mississippi. 1808. 447. William Henry Harrison, President U. S. 1800. 443. John W. Eppes, M. C.; son-in-law of Jefferson. 1805. 461. David Meade Randolph, second son of Richard Randolph, of Curls. 1807. 453. Robert Goodloe Harper, U. S. Senator for Maryland. 1799. 462. Levin Powell, M.D., from 1799 to 1801. 1800. 458. David Holmes, M. C. from Virginia; Senator from Mississippi. 1799. 473. Thomas Claiborne, M.C. from 1801 to 1805. 1803. 457. William C. C. Claiborne, Governor of Mississippi Territory. 1798, 474. Joseph Lewis, M. C. 1803 to 1817. 1805. 491. Philip R. Thompson. 1806. 475. James Stephenson, M.C. 1806. 494. Josiah Parker, M. C. 1789 to 1801. 1799. 476. William A. Burwell, M.C. 1806 to 1821. 1806. 477. William Clarke, explorer. 1807. __________________________________________________________ (1)In the published list she is named Miss Wilson, butt his is a mistake. The Waggamans of Washington, her descendants, have the original plate as well as the plate of her husband, Thomas E. Waggaman. Page 148. 497. Thomas Newton, M.C., of Norfolk. 1806. 500. Thomas Grififn, M.C. 1803-1805. 1805. 503. Robert Beverley, of Essex county. 1807. 522. John C. Herbert, Alexandria, M.C. from Maryland 1815 to 1819. 1807. 524. Dr. Dick, physician to Washington, Alexandria, Va. 1805. 525. ---- Bartleman, Alexandria, Va. 1805. 526. P. Thompson, Alexandria, Va. 1805. 527. Col. Wm. Henry Fitzhugh, Chatham, Va. 1807. 528. Judge Jones (Judge Joseph Jones, M.C.). 1805. 529. George Young, Alexandria, Va. 1805. 530. Alexander Smyth, M.C. (Major-General U.S.A.), Wythe Co., Va. 1805. 531. Dr. Elisha De Butts (lived Alexandria), Maryland. 1805. 532. William Yeaton, Alexandria, Va. 1807. 533. Tunis Craven, Alexandria; afterwards of New York. 1805. 535. Capt. Mackea. 1804. 536. ----- Sutton. 1805. 537. William Sandford (sail maker), Alexandria, Va. 1805. 538. Dr. Thomas Semmes, Alexandria, Va. 1805. 539. B. Cocke (merchant), Alexandria, Va. 1805. 541. Carter Burwell. 1805. 542. ----- Winterburg. 1805. 544. Benjamin Ricketts. 1805. 543. Carter Muse. 1805. 545. A. Lynn (silversmith), Alexandria, Va. 1805. 546. Skelton Jones, Richmond, Va. 1808. 547. De Rochemont. 1805. 548. J. C. Anthony (merchant), Richmond, Va. 1808. 549. J. Taylor. 1805. 551. Thomas O. Anderson, U. S. N., Virginia. 1808. 552. John G. Mosby (son of General Wade Mosby), Richmond, Va. 1808. 553. John Graham, chief clerk in State Departmetn; Virginia. 1808. 554. J. Kerr. 1808. 555. Joseph Scott (captain in Revolution, and U.S. Marshall), Virginia. 1808. 556. Edmund Pendleton Gaines, Major-General (arrested A. Burr), Virginia. 1808. Page 149. 557. John Bell, of the firm of John and William Bell, Petersburg and Richmond, Va. 1808. 558. Allen Pollock (merchant), lived at Chelsea, near Richmond, Va. 1808. 559. Hyman marks, merchant of Richmond, Va. 1805. 560. Judge John Tayloe Lomax, Virginia. 1808. 561. William Carter, born at Shirley 1782, and in 1860 was living in Caroline county, Va. 1808. 562. Jonathan Cooper. 1809. 563. Patrick Gibson (merchant in Richmond, Va.), born of Scotch paretns in Rotterdam, Holland, 1808. 564. John C. Hubner, Richmond, Va. (German). 1808. 565. L. Carter. 1805. 566. ----- Roddey. 1810 567. J. N. Luckett. 1808. 568. Alexander Gibson (merchant), brother to Patrick Gibson, Richmond, Va. 1808. 569. William Gray. 1809. 570. Littleton W. Tazewell (Governor Virginia, M.C.), Virginia. 1808. 571. Garrett Minor, lawyer, Fredericksburg, Va. 1808. 572. Daniel Triplett, merchant, Richmond, Va. 1808. 573. Landon Carter, Sabine Hall, Va. 1808. 574. Hugh Mercer, son of Gen. H. Mercer, Virginia. 1808. 575. Judge William Henry Cabell, Governor, etc. Virginia. 1807. 576. ----- Fuller. 1809. 577. Lawrence Muse, member of Virginia Legislature. 1808. 578. Thomas Taylor, Richmond, Va. 1808. 579. J. Brown, merchant, firm of Brown and Rives, Virginia. 1808. 580. Peter Jefferson, brother of Thomas J., Virginia. 1808. 581. William Wirt, LL.d., Chancellor, etc. Virginia. 1808. 582. Archibald Pleasants (Rallston & Pleasants, merchants), Richmond, Va. 1808. 583. Henry L. Briscoe, merchant, Manchester, Va. 1808. 584. Nicholas Cabell, Jr., brother of Judge Wm. H. Cabell, Virginia. 1808. 585. E. W. Rootes, merchant, Richmond, Va. 1808. 586. John F. Delaplaine, merchant, New York. 1810. Page 150. 587. ----- Clarke. 1805. 588. James Curie, son of Dr. James Currie, merchant, Richmond, Va. 1805. 589. ----- Wilkinson. 1808. 590. St. George Tucker, professor of Law at William and mary College, Virginia. 1808. 591. Chancellor William Nelson, Williamsburg, Va. 1808. 592. John marshall, Chief Justice. Virginia. 1808. 593. Thomas Marshall, eldest son of John Marshall. Virginia. 1808. 594. P. Murry (a Scothman), merchant, Richmond, Va. 1809. 595. Joseph Barn (Baines?). 1808. 596. James W. Bates (brother of Hon. Ed. Bates, Missouri), M. C. from Arkansas. 1808. 597. ----- Van Ness. 1808. 598. T. H. Harris, merchant, Richmond, Va. 1808. 599. Col. John Mayo, father of Mrs. General Scott. Virginia. 1808. 600. James Madison, President. Virginia. 1807. 601. Peter Johnson, judge of General Court. Virginia. 1808. 602. ----- Nelson, Virginia. 1808. 603. Jacob Kinny, Virginia. 1808. 604. Peter Carr, planter, nephew of Thomas Jefferson. Virginia. 1808. 605. John Wickham, lawyer, Richmond, Va. 1808. 606. Dr. George Watson, Richmond, Va. 1808. 607. James Barbour, Governor, Senator, etc. Virginia. 1808. 608. James Breckenridge, M.C. Virginia. 1808. 609. J. Edbretz. 1808. 610. John S. Smith. 1807. 611. Col. Henry Heth, owner of Chesterfield Coal Mines, Va. 1805. 612. Benjamin Harrison, brother of President. Virginia. 1808. 613. Johnson (of the firm of Pitckett, Pollard & Johnson), merchant, Richmond, Va. 1808. 614. Thomas Bolling Robertson, Governor of Louisiana. Virginia. 1808. 615. Col. Reuben Lindsay, Albemarle, Va. 1808. 616. Overton Anderson, merchant, Richmond, Va. 1808. 617. ----- Burnet, Norfolk, Va. 1808. Page 151. 618. Benjamin Mosby, Powhatan Co., Va. 1808. 619. James Edwards. 1808. 620. James Bankhead (served in Revolution), Virginia. 1808. 622. Thomas E. Waggaman, brother-in-law of President Tyler. 1808. 623. Dr. Carr, U.S.N., New Jersey. 1810. 625. Richard Brooke, son of Governor Robert Brooke, merchant, Richmond, Va. 1808. 626. Charles Everett (House of Delegates), Albemarle Co., Va. 1808. 627. Wm. P. Nivison (brother of Governor Tazewell's wife), lawyer, Norfolk, Va. 1808. 628. George Nicholas, brother of Governor W. C. Nicholas, and father of Judge Samuel Nicholas, of Louisville, Ky. Virginia. 1808. 629. Guy L. Trigg. 1808. 647. Miles King, Norfolk, Va. 1808. 657. Hugh Nelson, Judge, M.C., etc. 1808. 684. Walter Herron, Norfolk, Va. Made a fortune by ropemaking. Married Miss Plume. 1808. 693. Mrs. Alexander Smyth, Wythe Co., Va. 1805. 715. Dr. Robert Carter. 1801. 721. Mrs. David Meade Randolph, oldest child of Thomas Mann Randolph, of Tuckahoe. 1807. 729. Mrs. De Butts, wife of Dr. Elisha De Butts (see 531). 1805. 739. Mrs. William Henry Cabell. 1808. 740. Mrs. Mary Carter, wife of Dr. Robert Carter (715), of Shirley, Va. 1808. 745. Mrs. Eliza Nelson, wife of Judge Hugh Nelson (657). 1808. 750. Miss S. Conyers, Richmond, Va. Perished at the burning of the Richmond Theatre, December 26, 1811. A celebrated beauty; engaged to Lieut. Gibbon, who perished with her. 1808. 752. Mrs. Herron, wife of Walter Herron. Her adopted daughter, Miss Anna Plume Bohan Herron, founded St. Vincent's Hospital in Norfolk, Va. 1808. 754. Mrs. Taylor, wife of Thomas Taylor, of Richmond, Va., (578). 758. Mrs. Wilkinson.