Voltaire, Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1778
Jean-Antoine Houdon, portraitJean-Antoine HoudonFrench, 1741–1828

Voltaire

1778 · Bust

Can I see it?

Unknown

Where is “Voltaire” now? Collection: Skulpturensammlung Dresden, Dresden. Unknown.

The owner is known; whether it is on view today is not.

In this state since
Source
The museum

Details

What it shows

In the catalog

Sources

In the life of Jean-Antoine Houdon

The whole life
  1. 1776 · Workplace

    Paris

  2. 26 July 1777 · Membership

    Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture

  3. 1778

    Becomes a professor at the Academy

    He is appointed professor of the sculpture class at the Academy of Painting and Sculpture.

  4. 1778

    Joins the Masonic lodge “Les Neuf Sœurs”

    He joins the lodge Les Neuf Sœurs, where he later meets Benjamin Franklin and Admiral John Paul Jones.

  5. 31 May 1778

    Takes casts of the dead Voltaire’s face

    The day after Voltaire’s death (30 May 1778) he takes plaster casts of the philosopher’s face and hands. These casts and his earlier work from life become the basis of several portraits of Voltaire.

All works

From the collection of Skulpturensammlung Dresden

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