File:Manassas National Battlefield Before Treatment (55ba8c33-1dd8-b71b-0bf5-bcb1423fdde0).JPG

A black and white crayon and graphite drawing on a pink ground

Saint-Mémin (1770-1852) was a major portrait artist in Federalist America from 1796 – 1812. During his career in the United States he traveled to major cities along the east coast advertising and selling his work. The portrait was of Dr. Isaac Henry, naval surgeon on the frigate Constellation, one of the first U.S. naval ships was done in black and white crayon and graphite drawing on a pink ground. The drawing suffered from numerous condition concerns some of which were a result of the inherent vice and others due to improper handling and storage. The drawing was attached along its edges to the original wooden strainer with what appeared to be an animal glue adhesive. Severe tears existed along the inner edge of the strainer. The paper was brittle and a considerable amount of the surface was marred by grime and flyspecks. Water stains and gray-brown tidelines extended into the image area. The image was scratched and abraded from breakage of framing glass. It was still in its original frame.