Napoleon
Bust
ca. 1806 (made)
ca. 1806 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze bust of Napoleon Bonaparte was made after a terracotta bust of Napoleon by Jean-Antoine Houdon, of 1806. The bust follows closely the Houdon portrait, but with the addition of the wreath, and the omission of the irises of the eyes. The bust is cast in several pieces, the cast marks not removed.
Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1823) is universally recognized as the greatest European portrait sculptor of the last half of the 18th century. He excelled in penetrating portrayals of the great intellectual, military, and political figures of the Enlightenment, as well as portraits of children. He was also masterly in conveying textiles and other textures in carved marble.
Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1823) is universally recognized as the greatest European portrait sculptor of the last half of the 18th century. He excelled in penetrating portrayals of the great intellectual, military, and political figures of the Enlightenment, as well as portraits of children. He was also masterly in conveying textiles and other textures in carved marble.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Napoleon (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Bust, bronze, Napoleon Bonaparte, after Jean-Antoine Houdon, French, after 1806 |
| Physical description | Bust of Napoleon facing front, undraped, and crowned with a laurel wreath. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Presented by Art Fund |
| Object history | Transferred from the Tate Gallery in 1983, previously Tate Loan 68. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze bust of Napoleon Bonaparte was made after a terracotta bust of Napoleon by Jean-Antoine Houdon, of 1806. The bust follows closely the Houdon portrait, but with the addition of the wreath, and the omission of the irises of the eyes. The bust is cast in several pieces, the cast marks not removed. Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1823) is universally recognized as the greatest European portrait sculptor of the last half of the 18th century. He excelled in penetrating portrayals of the great intellectual, military, and political figures of the Enlightenment, as well as portraits of children. He was also masterly in conveying textiles and other textures in carved marble. |
| Bibliographic reference | Arnason, H. H., The Sculptures of Houdon, London, 1975, p. 102, and plates 136-7 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.16-1984 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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