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Catalog Data

Artist:
Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1741 - 1828  Search this
Sitter:
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799  Search this
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")
Type:
Sculpture
Date:
c. 1786
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
Topic:
George Washington: Male  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman  Search this
George Washington: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
George Washington: Science and Technology\Surveyor  Search this
George Washington: Congressional Gold Medal  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Joe L. & Barbara B. Albritton and Robert H. & Clarice Smith
Object number:
NPG.78.1
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition:
America's Presidents (Reinstallation September 2017)
On View:
NPG, South Gallery 240
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm417d9993c-04d6-456e-9593-e372ac483c80
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.78.1