The engraved print is based on the portrait painted by Anne Rosalie Filleul, and published by her father. Cathelin exhibited it at the Royal Academy's Salon of 1779, where Benjamin Franklin may be said to have stolen the show: Joseph-Siffred Duplessis showed his oil portrait of Franklin, and Jean-Antoine Houdon his terra cotta bust of Franklin. One critic believed Cathelin's print was a better resemblance than the other two.