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Artist
Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1741 - 1828
Sitter
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799
Date
c. 1786
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Plaster
Dimensions
With Socle: 55.9 x 33.7 x 24.8cm (22 x 13 1/4 x 9 3/4")
Socle Diameter: 14.6cm (5 3/4")
Topic
George Washington: Male
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War Army officer
George Washington: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman
George Washington: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
George Washington: Politics and Government\President of US
George Washington: Science and Technology\Surveyor
George Washington: Congressional Gold Medal
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Joe L. & Barbara B. Albritton and Robert H. & Clarice Smith
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.78.1
Exhibition Label
Born Westmoreland County, Virginia
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
