Jean-Antoine Houdon

(French, 1741–1828)

Jean-Antoine Houdon a French Neoclassical portrait sculptor, best known for his busts of contemporary political and cultural figures of the French Enlightenment. His work is characterized by its lively sense of realism and lack of idealism, capturing his subject’s transient expressions. Influenced by Classical masters such as Michelangelo, he often sculpted directly from life or by casting his model’s faces. He was born in Versailles, France on March 25, 1741, and after attending several French institutions of fine art during his youth—notably including the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture—Houdon found success after submitting his terra-cotta patinated plaster cast Morpheus to the Paris Salon of 1771. He had a lengthy and prolific career, sculpting such prominent figures as Napoleon Bonaparte, Voltaire, and even George Washington, for which he crossed the Atlantic and spent 12 days at Mount Vernon. Though he fell out of popularity and narrowly avoided imprisonment at the hands of the French Revolution for his bourgeois ties, his popularity later resumed and he was inducted into the Legion of Honor in 1804. He died in Paris, France on July 15, 1828, and is now interred in the famed Montparnasse Cemetery.

Related Categories

19th-Century European and British Art, Old Masters, Sculpture

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Jean-Antoine Houdon Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
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Jean-Antoine Houdon (550 results)
Untitled

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Untitled

Sale Date: April 25, 2012

Auction Closed

A bust of a nobleman, 1875–1925

In the manner of Jean-Antoine Houdon

A bust of a nobleman, 1875–1925

Sale Date: April 19, 2012

Auction Closed

Figure representant Jean-Jacques Rousseau..., 1810

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Figure representant Jean-Jacques Rousseau..., 1810

Sale Date: April 17, 2012

Auction Closed

Buste representant Louise Brongniart, 1800–1899

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Buste representant Louise Brongniart, 1800–1899

Sale Date: April 17, 2012

Auction Closed

Büste eines französischen Adligen, 1800

Attributed to Jean-Antoine Houdon

Büste eines französischen Adligen, 1800

Sale Date: March 31, 2012

Auction Closed

Bust of a classical lady, 1775–1799

In the manner of Jean-Antoine Houdon

Bust of a classical lady, 1775–1799

Sale Date: April 3, 2012

Auction Closed

Joséphine de Beauharnais

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Joséphine de Beauharnais

Sale Date: April 5, 2012

Auction Closed

The Comtesse de Sabran

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

The Comtesse de Sabran

Sale Date: March 16, 2012

Auction Closed

Buste de dame

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Buste de dame

Sale Date: January 22, 2012

Auction Closed

Bust of Thomas Jefferson

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Bust of Thomas Jefferson

Sale Date: January 7, 2012

Auction Closed

Joven clásica

Follower of Jean-Antoine Houdon

Joven clásica

Sale Date: December 20, 2011

Auction Closed

Buste de dame

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Buste de dame

Sale Date: December 11, 2011

Auction Closed

Büste einer jungen Frau mit Spatz auf der Schulter

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Büste einer jungen Frau mit Spatz auf der Schulter

Sale Date: December 3, 2011

Auction Closed

Buste d'Anne-Robert Turgot, baron..., 1800–1899

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Buste d'Anne-Robert Turgot, baron..., 1800–1899

Sale Date: December 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Diane en buste

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Diane en buste

Sale Date: December 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Voltaire, 1800–1825

Studio of Jean-Antoine Houdon

Voltaire, 1800–1825

Sale Date: December 9, 2011

Auction Closed

Madame Récamier, drapée à l'antique

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Madame Récamier, drapée à l'antique

Sale Date: December 4, 2011

Auction Closed

Bust (Plâtre original) of Madame de..., 1795–1800

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Bust (Plâtre original) of Madame de..., 1795–1800

Sale Date: November 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Buste de Anne-Robert Turgot, Baron d'Aulne, 1777

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Buste de Anne-Robert Turgot, Baron d'Aulne, 1777

Sale Date: November 18, 2011

Auction Closed

Psyche reviving Cupid with a kiss

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Psyche reviving Cupid with a kiss

Sale Date: November 15, 2011

Auction Closed

Buste de Marie-Louise Brongniart

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Buste de Marie-Louise Brongniart

Sale Date: November 15, 2011

Auction Closed

Büste der Jagdgöttin Diana

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Büste der Jagdgöttin Diana

Sale Date: September 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Maquette of a vanitas figure, 1778

In the manner of Jean-Antoine Houdon

Maquette of a vanitas figure, 1778

Sale Date: September 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Diane chasseresse

Jean-Antoine Houdon

Diane chasseresse

Sale Date: June 28, 2011

Auction Closed

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