diff --git a/features/sites_authors_screens.feature b/features/sites_authors_screens.feature
index 874eaf5..3fe26e1 100644
--- a/features/sites_authors_screens.feature
+++ b/features/sites_authors_screens.feature
@@ -514,6 +514,7 @@ Feature: Sites and Authors screens
         and "Shown as a square. Choose an image with the face or logo near the middle." and "Use image"
       When the user picks an image and activates "Use image"
       Then the avatar shows as a square and avatar_id is sent on save
+      And once saved, the avatar is the picked image in the list row, the read-only detail, the edit form and its byline preview, resolved with GET /v1/media/{avatar_id} and shared between all of them, with the initials only while it loads, when it fails or when avatar_id is null
       And the Sites default social image uses this same picker and sends default_social_image_id
 
     Scenario Outline: Authors form: save failed
diff --git a/features/sites_authors_screens.qa.md b/features/sites_authors_screens.qa.md
index 0642ce2..284ae17 100644
--- a/features/sites_authors_screens.qa.md
+++ b/features/sites_authors_screens.qa.md
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ Authors: form (11):
 - [ ] Linked user: choose
 - [ ] Edit: linked author
 - [ ] Avatar: picker
+- [ ] Avatar: saved image shows in the list, the detail, the reopened form and the preview (not only the initials)
 - [ ] Save failed
 - [ ] Unlink: confirm
 - [ ] Re-link
diff --git a/web/src/components/AuthorAvatar.vue b/web/src/components/AuthorAvatar.vue
index 23fdd9a..939849a 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AuthorAvatar.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/AuthorAvatar.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { computed } from 'vue'
+import { useAvatarImage } from '@/composables/useAvatarImage'
 import { initialsOf } from '@/lib/directory'
 
 const TONES = ['bg-(--rc-sand)', 'bg-(--ui-bg-accented)', 'bg-(--ui-bg-elevated)'] as const
@@ -7,18 +8,21 @@ const TONES = ['bg-(--rc-sand)', 'bg-(--ui-bg-accented)', 'bg-(--ui-bg-elevated)
 const props = withDefaults(
 	defineProps<{
 		name: string
+		avatarId?: number | null
 		size?: number
 		ring?: boolean
 	}>(),
-	{ size: 32, ring: false },
+	{ avatarId: null, size: 32, ring: false },
 )
 
+const src = useAvatarImage(() => props.avatarId)
 const tone = computed(() => TONES[props.name.length % TONES.length])
 const fontSize = computed(() => `${Math.round(props.size * 0.36)}px`)
 </script>
 
 <template>
 	<UAvatar
+		:src="src"
 		:alt="name"
 		:text="initialsOf(name)"
 		aria-hidden="true"
diff --git a/web/src/components/AuthorFormPanel.vue b/web/src/components/AuthorFormPanel.vue
index 1c13b93..9037623 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AuthorFormPanel.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/AuthorFormPanel.vue
@@ -532,7 +532,11 @@ async function confirmUnlink() {
 
 		<template #preview>
 			<div class="flex items-start gap-3 bg-elevated p-3">
-				<AuthorAvatar :name="values.name || 'Author'" :size="40" />
+				<AuthorAvatar
+					:name="values.name || 'Author'"
+					:avatar-id="values.avatarId"
+					:size="40"
+				/>
 				<div class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-0.5">
 					<span class="text-xs text-muted">{{ t('Byline preview') }}</span>
 					<span class="truncate font-semibold text-highlighted">{{
diff --git a/web/src/components/AuthorList.vue b/web/src/components/AuthorList.vue
index dbd7b69..9ce1e8e 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AuthorList.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/AuthorList.vue
@@ -236,7 +236,11 @@ function rowClass(index: number) {
 						@pointerup="onPointerUp"
 						@pointercancel="endDrag"
 					/>
-					<AuthorAvatar :name="author.name" :size="avatarSize" />
+					<AuthorAvatar
+						:name="author.name"
+						:avatar-id="author.avatar_id"
+						:size="avatarSize"
+					/>
 					<span
 						class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate font-medium text-highlighted"
 						:title="author.name"
diff --git a/web/src/components/AuthorSelect.vue b/web/src/components/AuthorSelect.vue
index 78332db..ca371c6 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AuthorSelect.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/AuthorSelect.vue
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ const items = computed(() =>
 				description: author.slug,
 				value: author.id,
 				avatarName: author.name,
+				avatarId: author.avatar_id,
 				class: chosenIds.value.includes(author.id) ? 'opacity-60' : undefined,
 			}))
 		: [],
@@ -135,7 +136,12 @@ function createFromQuery() {
 			<span class="flex-1 truncate text-left text-muted">{{ t('Add an author') }}</span>
 		</template>
 		<template #item-leading="{ item }">
-			<AuthorAvatar v-if="'avatarName' in item" :name="String(item.avatarName)" :size="24" />
+			<AuthorAvatar
+				v-if="'avatarName' in item"
+				:name="String(item.avatarName)"
+				:avatar-id="'avatarId' in item ? item.avatarId : null"
+				:size="24"
+			/>
 		</template>
 		<template #empty>
 			<div v-if="status === 'error'" class="flex flex-col items-start gap-2 p-2">
diff --git a/web/src/components/AuthorStack.vue b/web/src/components/AuthorStack.vue
index 493621c..8011636 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AuthorStack.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/AuthorStack.vue
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ const extra = computed(() => Math.max(0, props.authors.length - props.max))
 				v-for="author in shown"
 				:key="author.id"
 				:name="author.name"
+				:avatar-id="author.avatar_id"
 				:size="size"
 				ring
 			/>
diff --git a/web/src/components/AuthorViewPanel.vue b/web/src/components/AuthorViewPanel.vue
index d26af93..78f6455 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AuthorViewPanel.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/AuthorViewPanel.vue
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{ close: [] }>()
 <template>
 	<DirectoryPanel :title="author.name" read-only @close="emit('close')">
 		<div class="flex items-center gap-3.5">
-			<AuthorAvatar :name="author.name" :size="64" />
+			<AuthorAvatar :name="author.name" :avatar-id="author.avatar_id" :size="64" />
 			<div class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-1">
 				<span class="truncate font-mono text-xs/4.5 text-muted">{{ author.slug }}</span>
 				<div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted">
diff --git a/web/src/components/MediaField.vue b/web/src/components/MediaField.vue
index f136f37..e86da30 100644
--- a/web/src/components/MediaField.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/MediaField.vue
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { t } from '@/i18n'
 
-import { computed, ref } from 'vue'
+import { computed, onMounted, ref, watch } from 'vue'
 import AuthorAvatar from '@/components/AuthorAvatar.vue'
 import DirectoryField from '@/components/DirectoryField.vue'
 import ImageUploader from '@/components/ImageUploader.vue'
 import MediaThumb from '@/components/MediaThumb.vue'
 import type { MediaItem } from '@/composables/useMedia'
+import { useMediaNames } from '@/composables/useMediaNames'
 import type { ImageChoice } from '@/lib/imageChoice'
 
 const props = withDefaults(
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@ const props = withDefaults(
 const imageId = defineModel<number | null>({ default: null })
 const item = defineModel<MediaItem | null>('item', { default: null })
 
+const names = useMediaNames()
+const shownItem = computed(() => item.value ?? names.itemOf(imageId.value))
+
 const pickerOpen = ref(false)
 const BUTTON_CLASS =
 	'h-11 gap-1.5 border border-accented bg-default px-2.5 text-xs text-highlighted ring-0 md:h-7'
@@ -32,12 +36,21 @@ const BUTTON_CLASS =
 const hasImage = computed(() => imageId.value !== null)
 const chooseLabel = computed(() => (hasImage.value ? t('Change image') : t('Choose image')))
 const caption = computed(() => {
-	if (item.value) {
-		return item.value.filename
+	if (shownItem.value) {
+		return shownItem.value.filename
 	}
 	return imageId.value === null ? '' : t('Image #{0}', [imageId.value])
 })
 
+function resolveMissing() {
+	if (!item.value) {
+		names.resolve([imageId.value])
+	}
+}
+
+onMounted(resolveMissing)
+watch(imageId, resolveMissing)
+
 function choose(picked: MediaItem) {
 	item.value = picked
 	imageId.value = picked.id
@@ -54,8 +67,8 @@ function remove() {
 		<div class="flex items-center gap-3">
 			<template v-if="square">
 				<MediaThumb
-					v-if="item"
-					:item="item"
+					v-if="shownItem"
+					:item="shownItem"
 					size="md"
 					class="size-16 border border-default"
 				/>
@@ -70,7 +83,7 @@ function remove() {
 						: 'border-dashed border-accented bg-default'
 				"
 			>
-				<MediaThumb v-if="item" :item="item" size="sm" class="size-full" />
+				<MediaThumb v-if="shownItem" :item="shownItem" size="sm" class="size-full" />
 				<UIcon v-else name="i-lucide-image" class="size-4.5" />
 			</div>
 			<div class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-1.5">
diff --git a/web/src/components/MetaSection.vue b/web/src/components/MetaSection.vue
index bfcbf29..549a4e3 100644
--- a/web/src/components/MetaSection.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/MetaSection.vue
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ const showHint = computed(
 )
 
 function toByline(author: Author): Byline {
-	return { id: author.id, name: author.name, slug: author.slug }
+	return { id: author.id, name: author.name, slug: author.slug, avatar_id: author.avatar_id }
 }
 
 function dismissHint() {
diff --git a/web/src/components/ReassignDialog.vue b/web/src/components/ReassignDialog.vue
index d6771ae..0c3f958 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ReassignDialog.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/ReassignDialog.vue
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export interface ReassignOption {
 	description: string
 	display: string
 	avatarName?: string
+	avatarId?: number | null
 	none?: boolean
 }
 
@@ -100,7 +101,12 @@ const current = computed(() => props.options.find((option) => option.value === s
 					>
 						<UIcon name="i-lucide-user-x" class="size-3.5" />
 					</span>
-					<AuthorAvatar v-else-if="item.avatarName" :name="item.avatarName" :size="24" />
+					<AuthorAvatar
+						v-else-if="item.avatarName"
+						:name="item.avatarName"
+						:avatar-id="item.avatarId"
+						:size="24"
+					/>
 				</template>
 			</USelectMenu>
 			<template v-if="summary && !selectOpen" #help>
diff --git a/web/src/components/__tests__/MediaField.spec.ts b/web/src/components/__tests__/MediaField.spec.ts
index f131ff9..b702fa9 100644
--- a/web/src/components/__tests__/MediaField.spec.ts
+++ b/web/src/components/__tests__/MediaField.spec.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,38 @@ describe('MediaField', () => {
 		expect(wrapper.findComponent(MediaField).emitted('update:modelValue')![0]).toEqual([null])
 	})
 
+	it('looks up the saved image by id and shows its filename when reopened without an item', async () => {
+		const request = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(ITEM)
+		vi.mocked(useApi).mockReturnValue({ getMe: vi.fn(), request } as unknown as ReturnType<
+			typeof useApi
+		>)
+
+		await mountInApp(MediaField, { label: 'Avatar', picker: PICKER, modelValue: 55 })
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/v1/media/55')
+		expect(text(document.body)).toContain('face.jpg')
+		expect(text(document.body)).not.toContain('Image #55')
+		expect(document.body.querySelector('[data-testid="media-thumb"] img')).toBeTruthy()
+	})
+
+	it('does not look the image up when the item is already known', async () => {
+		const request = vi.fn()
+		vi.mocked(useApi).mockReturnValue({ getMe: vi.fn(), request } as unknown as ReturnType<
+			typeof useApi
+		>)
+
+		await mountInApp(MediaField, {
+			label: 'Avatar',
+			picker: PICKER,
+			modelValue: 55,
+			item: ITEM,
+		})
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		expect(request).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+	})
+
 	it('draws the avatar variant as a square with initials when no image is chosen', async () => {
 		await mountInApp(MediaField, {
 			label: 'Avatar',
diff --git a/web/src/composables/__tests__/useAvatarImage.spec.ts b/web/src/composables/__tests__/useAvatarImage.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd863f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/composables/__tests__/useAvatarImage.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { effectScope, nextTick, ref } from 'vue'
+
+const request = vi.fn()
+
+vi.mock('@/composables/useApi', async (importOriginal) => {
+	const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import('@/composables/useApi')>()
+	return { ...actual, useApi: () => ({ request }) }
+})
+
+import { useAvatarImage } from '@/composables/useAvatarImage'
+
+async function settle() {
+	await nextTick()
+	await Promise.resolve()
+	await nextTick()
+}
+
+describe('useAvatarImage', () => {
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		request.mockReset()
+		request.mockImplementation(async (path: string) => ({
+			id: Number(path.split('/').pop()),
+			url: `/static/uploadedImages/${path.split('/').pop()}.jpg`,
+		}))
+	})
+
+	it('resolves the avatar id to the media url', async () => {
+		const src = effectScope().run(() => useAvatarImage(() => 101))!
+
+		await settle()
+
+		expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/v1/media/101')
+		expect(src.value).toBe('/static/uploadedImages/101.jpg')
+	})
+
+	it('has no image and makes no request without an avatar id', async () => {
+		const src = effectScope().run(() => useAvatarImage(() => null))!
+
+		await settle()
+
+		expect(request).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+		expect(src.value).toBeUndefined()
+	})
+
+	it('shares one lookup between avatars of the same image', async () => {
+		effectScope().run(() => {
+			useAvatarImage(() => 102)
+			useAvatarImage(() => 102)
+		})
+
+		await settle()
+
+		expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+	})
+
+	it('follows the id when the author picks another image', async () => {
+		const id = ref(103)
+		const src = effectScope().run(() => useAvatarImage(() => id.value))!
+		await settle()
+
+		id.value = 104
+		await settle()
+
+		expect(src.value).toBe('/static/uploadedImages/104.jpg')
+	})
+
+	it('falls back to initials and does not retry when the lookup fails', async () => {
+		request.mockRejectedValue(new Error('gone'))
+		const src = effectScope().run(() => useAvatarImage(() => 105))!
+		effectScope().run(() => useAvatarImage(() => 105))
+
+		await settle()
+
+		expect(src.value).toBeUndefined()
+		expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+	})
+})
diff --git a/web/src/composables/useAvatarImage.ts b/web/src/composables/useAvatarImage.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6644faf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/composables/useAvatarImage.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import { computed, reactive, watchEffect } from 'vue'
+import { useApi } from '@/composables/useApi'
+import type { MediaItem } from '@/composables/useMedia'
+
+const urls = reactive<Record<number, string>>({})
+const pending = new Set<number>()
+const failed = new Set<number>()
+
+function rememberAvatarImage(item: Pick<MediaItem, 'id' | 'url'>) {
+	urls[item.id] = item.url
+}
+
+export function useAvatarImage(avatarId: () => number | null | undefined) {
+	const { request } = useApi()
+
+	async function lookUp(id: number) {
+		pending.add(id)
+		try {
+			rememberAvatarImage(await request<MediaItem>(`/v1/media/${id}`))
+		} catch {
+			failed.add(id)
+		} finally {
+			pending.delete(id)
+		}
+	}
+
+	watchEffect(() => {
+		const id = avatarId()
+		if (typeof id === 'number' && !(id in urls) && !pending.has(id) && !failed.has(id)) {
+			lookUp(id)
+		}
+	})
+
+	return computed(() => {
+		const id = avatarId()
+		return typeof id === 'number' ? urls[id] : undefined
+	})
+}
diff --git a/web/src/lib/articleMeta.ts b/web/src/lib/articleMeta.ts
index 708f4cd..1eff855 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/articleMeta.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/articleMeta.ts
@@ -33,5 +33,5 @@ export function sameIds(left: Byline[], right: Byline[]) {
 }
 
 export function toBylines(authors: Byline[]): Byline[] {
-	return authors.map(({ id, name, slug }) => ({ id, name, slug }))
+	return authors.map(({ id, name, slug, avatar_id }) => ({ id, name, slug, avatar_id }))
 }
diff --git a/web/src/lib/articleTypes.ts b/web/src/lib/articleTypes.ts
index 91ddb78..203401f 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/articleTypes.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/articleTypes.ts
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ export interface Byline {
 	id: number
 	name: string
 	slug: string
+	avatar_id?: number | null
 }
diff --git a/web/src/views/AuthorsView.vue b/web/src/views/AuthorsView.vue
index 476b806..23e3c14 100644
--- a/web/src/views/AuthorsView.vue
+++ b/web/src/views/AuthorsView.vue
@@ -357,6 +357,7 @@ async function loadDeleteOptions(author: Author) {
 			description: candidate.slug,
 			display: candidate.name,
 			avatarName: candidate.name,
+			avatarId: candidate.avatar_id,
 		})),
 		nobodyOption(),
 	]
@@ -668,7 +669,7 @@ const noResultsTitle = computed(() => t('No authors match "{0}"', [query.value.q
 			>
 				<template #cells="{ item }">
 					<div class="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2.5">
-						<AuthorAvatar :name="item.name" :size="32" />
+						<AuthorAvatar :name="item.name" :avatar-id="item.avatar_id" :size="32" />
 						<span class="truncate font-medium text-highlighted" :title="item.name">{{
 							item.name
 						}}</span>
@@ -680,7 +681,7 @@ const noResultsTitle = computed(() => t('No authors match "{0}"', [query.value.q
 					<span class="text-muted">{{ pluralArticles(item.article_count) }}</span>
 				</template>
 				<template #card="{ item }">
-					<AuthorAvatar :name="item.name" :size="40" />
+					<AuthorAvatar :name="item.name" :avatar-id="item.avatar_id" :size="40" />
 					<div class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-0.75">
 						<span
 							class="truncate text-md/5.25 font-medium text-highlighted"
diff --git a/web/src/views/__tests__/AuthorsView.spec.ts b/web/src/views/__tests__/AuthorsView.spec.ts
index c40cd44..1a113f1 100644
--- a/web/src/views/__tests__/AuthorsView.spec.ts
+++ b/web/src/views/__tests__/AuthorsView.spec.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,40 @@ function manyAuthors(count: number): Author[] {
 	}))
 }
 
+describe('Authors: avatar image', () => {
+	const AVATAR_ID = 77
+	const AVATAR_URL = '/static/uploadedImages/camille.jpg'
+
+	function backendWithAvatar() {
+		const backend = createBackend()
+		backend.authors = backend.authors.map((author) =>
+			author.slug === 'camille-roche' ? { ...author, avatar_id: AVATAR_ID } : author,
+		)
+		backend.responders[`GET /v1/media/${AVATAR_ID}`] = () => ({
+			id: AVATAR_ID,
+			url: AVATAR_URL,
+		})
+		return backend
+	}
+
+	it('draws the saved avatar in the row of the author that has one', async () => {
+		await mountDirectory('authors', '/authors', { backend: backendWithAvatar() })
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		const images = Array.from(
+			document.body.querySelectorAll<HTMLImageElement>('[data-testid="directory-row"] img'),
+		)
+		expect(images.map((image) => image.getAttribute('src'))).toEqual([AVATAR_URL])
+	})
+
+	it('keeps the initials for authors without an avatar', async () => {
+		await mountDirectory('authors', '/authors')
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		expect(document.body.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="directory-row"] img')).toHaveLength(0)
+	})
+})
+
 describe.each(['owner', 'admin'])('Authors: default for %s', (role) => {
 	it('shows the header, the search field, the columns and the rows', async () => {
 		const backend = await mountDirectory('authors', '/authors', { role })
diff --git a/web/src/views/__tests__/EditorAuthorList.spec.ts b/web/src/views/__tests__/EditorAuthorList.spec.ts
index c1fd781..c4866e4 100644
--- a/web/src/views/__tests__/EditorAuthorList.spec.ts
+++ b/web/src/views/__tests__/EditorAuthorList.spec.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,31 @@ describe('Author list: an ordered list with the first author as the primary byli
 	})
 })
 
+describe('Author list: avatars', () => {
+	const AVATAR_ID = 61
+	const AVATAR_URL = '/static/uploadedImages/ines.jpg'
+
+	function rowImages() {
+		return authorRows().map((row) => row.querySelector('img')?.getAttribute('src') ?? null)
+	}
+
+	it('draws the avatar of an author loaded with the article and keeps the initials of the others', async () => {
+		const backend = backendWith('Inès Duarte', 'Jonas Pereira')
+		backend.article.authors = backend.article.authors!.map((author, index) =>
+			index === 0 ? { ...author, avatar_id: AVATAR_ID } : author,
+		)
+		backend.responders[`GET /v1/media/${AVATAR_ID}`] = () => ({
+			id: AVATAR_ID,
+			url: AVATAR_URL,
+		})
+
+		await mountMeta('editor', EDITOR, { backend })
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		expect(rowImages()).toEqual([AVATAR_URL, null])
+	})
+})
+
 describe('Author list: reorder with the keyboard', () => {
 	async function mountThree() {
 		const backend = backendWith('Inès Duarte', 'Jonas Pereira', 'Camille Roche')