You can start here: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/Messier.html http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/xtra/history/CMessier.html Here's the scoop on the portrait: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/xtra/history/cm_image.html This is evidently from a photograph by Owen Gingerich, the astronomy historian. The portrait is also reproduced in "The Messier Album" by Evred Kreimer and John Mallas (both Phoenix amateurs; Kreimer is still living; Mallas died some years ago, rather prematurely.) And in "Messier's Nebula and Star Clusters," by Kenneth Glyn Jones. There is also a less flattering portrait of Messier in old age in "Deep Sky Companions -- The Messier Objects," By Stephen James O'Meara. O'Meara also has a line drawing of Messier observing with a mural (wall mounted) transit instrument, but with his back turned..... Gene Lucas (17250) Paul Dickson wrote: >On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:06:54 -0500, rtejera@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote: > > > >>Personally I was thinking along the same lines as Gene, something with >>Mssr Messier's image. Not being blessed with any artistic ability, I'll >>let better talents than me come with ideas. >> >> > >In that regard, does anyone have have a public domain image of Charles >Messier? > > -Paul > > > > >