A picture catalogue to the French (7)

I believe the answer is:

tableau

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'a picture' is the definition.
(a tableau is a picture or display)

'catalogue to the french' is the wordplay.
'catalogue' becomes 'table' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to the french' becomes 'au' ('to the' in French).
'table'+'au'='TABLEAU'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tableau that I've seen before include "Group of motionless figures -- dramatic scene" , "still life?" , "Motionless group on stage" , "Staged scene" , "- - vivant" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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