Mederic-Louis-Elie Moreau de Saint-Mery

James Sharples employed his characteristic pastel method, combining colored pastel with black chalk to model form and texture. The choice of a brown, inexpensive wove paper enhanced the luminosity of the pigments, allowing the subtle tones to emerge against a muted ground. The medium enabled rapid execution, a practical solution for sitters who could only allocate an hour for portraiture.

Created in 1798, the portrait reflects Sharples’ activity after his relocation to the United States in 1794. An English artist who had exhibited at the Royal Academy since 1779, Sharples continued his portrait practice across the Atlantic, contributing to the emerging visual culture of early America. The piece now belongs to the American Wing collection.

At the close of the eighteenth century, pastel sticks were becoming scarce in America, making Sharples’ use of the medium notable. His swift, one‑hour sittings catered to the practical constraints of a young nation’s clientele, while the economical brown paper underscored the modest resources available to artists working outside established European workshops.