Jean Antoine Houdon

Jean-Antoine Houdon (March 20, 1741 - July 15, 1828) was a French sculptor.

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Jean-Antoine Houdon was born in Versailles. As a sculptor, he became famous for his busts and statues of the great thinkers and doers of the time, including those of Denis Diderot (1771), Benjamin Franklin (1778), Thomas Jefferson (1789), Napoleon, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1778), Voltaire (1781), and George Washington (1788). The statue of Washington was the outcome of a specific invitation by Franklin to come across the Atlantic Ocean to Mount Vernon so that Washington could model for him. Ordered by the Legislature of Virginia, the marble statue now adorns the capitol at Richmond.

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In 1761 Houdon won the Prix de Rome, but he was not influenced greatly by the treasures of art in Rome. His stay in Rome is marked by two characteristic and important productions: the superb "Ecorché", an anatomical model which has served as a guide to all artists since his day, and the statue of Saint Bruno in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Rome. After ten years stay in Rome, Houdon returned to Paris.

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He became a member of the Acad?mie Royale in 1771 and a professor in 1778. He was out of favor during the French Revolution (although he escaped imprisonment), but came back into favor under Napoleon Bonaparte.

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Jean Antoine Houdon died in Paris and was interred at the Cimeti?re du Montparnasse.

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March 20: March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). There are 286 days remaining....

July 15: July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining....

1828: 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar)....

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