In 1784, the French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon agreed to execute a full-length marble statue of George Washington for the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. The following year, he traveled across the Atlantic and spent two weeks at Mount Vernon. While there, he made a life mask of Washington. That mask became the basis for several plaster and terra-cotta busts, including this one.
Nacido en el condado de Westmoreland, Virginia
En 1784, el escultor francés Jean-Antoine Houdon accedió a crear una estatua de George Washington en mármol para el capitolio del estado de Virginia en la ciudad de Richmond. Al año siguiente cruzó el Atlántico y pasó dos semanas en Mount Vernon. Mientras estuvo allí tomó un molde de la cara de Washington que se convirtió la base para varios bustos de yeso y terracota, incluido este.
Provenance
J. William Middendorf, II [b. 1924] and Isabelle P. Middendorf; (Stabilimento Falivo), Vaduz, Liechtenstein; purchased NPG 1978
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
America's Presidents (Reinstallation September 2017)
On View
NPG, South Gallery 240
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Joe L. & Barbara B. Albritton and Robert H. & Clarice Smith
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Object number
NPG.78.1
Type
Sculpture
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Medium
Plaster
Dimensions
With Socle: 55.9 x 33.7 x 24.8cm (22 x 13 1/4 x 9 3/4")
