Thomas Frognall Dibdin described in his "Bibliographical, antiquarian and picturesque tour in France and Germany (1821, vol. II, p. 384-385) how he obtained the portrait when he visited Morenas nephew and heir of Jean-Joseph Rive, in Paris, in 1818 :

"Over the chimney-piece was a portrait, in pencil, of his late uncle : done from the life. It was the only one extant. It struck me indeed as singularly indicative of the keen, lively, penetrating talents of the original. "Might I obtain a copy of it ?" " If I would detain it only twenty-four hours." I instantly agreed so to do : carried it home ; and put the pencil of Mr. Lewis into immediate requisition — whose copy, as you here behold it, does ample justice to the original. On the back of the portrait were the lines which are here subjoined :