Word: houdon
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1920-1929
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Neither the nose nor the keenness escaped Sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon (1740-1828), whose proud, grim marble bust is generally conceded to be the best, most expressive Washington likeness. U. S. patriots and artists were glad last week to hear that it had been purchased for a U.S. client by Manhattan Dealer Jonce I. McGurk, that it would soon be shipped to the U. S. Rumored buyers: John Davison Rockefeller Jr.; Percy Avery Rockefeller. Rumored price...
...Sculptor Houdon was chosen by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, as "the best [sculptor] in any of the European States," to do a statue of Washington. With Franklin he traveled to the U. S., stayed two weeks at Mount Vernon, took measurements, made plaster casts. He is said to have sought vainly for the desired facial expression until he saw Washington dismiss an avaricious horse trader...
...collection. The last was by far the most spectacular; this brought the total for the entire sale to $2,297,763, the largest amount ever returned at a U. S. art auction. The most notable piece purchased on the last afternoon was a small marble bust by Jean Antoine Houdon; the head was that of a plump and imperious baby girl, the daughter of the artist. The woman who got the bust was later discovered to be a buyer for M. Knoedler & Co., who in turn were probably buying for Mrs. Edward Stephen Harkness...