Bust

Object Name:

Bust

Object ID:

1922.006.04

Creator:

Houdon, Jean-Antoine (1741-1828) -- Sculptor

Description:

Portrait bust of the Marquis de Lafayette. Bronze. Life-size bust of man; head turned toward subject's right; hollow; horizontally ribbed surface on reverse below shoulders; separate circular base and plinth 8.25" square, latter attached to base using four steel bolts with nuts. Pupils and iris of eyes defined. Wearing a "pigtail" wig with "pigeon winged" toupee; a coat with stand collar, epaulettes and lapels which are buttoned open; a vest with stand collar; and a ruffled shirt with neckcloth or stock. Inscribed on truncated lower surface of right arm, entirely in lower case lettering; "houdon / an(?) 1790," superimposed over "houdon / fec" inscribed at different angle. Pronounced green tone to bronze.

Material:

Metal
Bronze

Dimensions:

H-27 W-23 D-11.25 inches

Provenance:

A cast of the 1790 bust of Lafayette that stands over the entrance to the Assembly Hall at Versailles and has somewhat "questionable" double Houdon signature, and "has been the source for a large number of modern bronze replicas." See Accession File for details
Formerly in the Concord, NH. home of Benjamin Ames Kimball (1833-1920) at 44 South Main Street. See NH Notables file in library re Kimball who was a banker, manufacturer, railroad official, art collector, and prominent member of the NHHS. Bequeathed together with a marble pedestal "which came from the bed of the Tiber." Pedestal was probably the one on which bust was pictured in early photograph, copy of which is in Accession File along with copy of will Present location of pedestal unknown.

Credit Line:

Bequest of Benjamin Ames Kimball

People:

Lafayette, Marquis de (1757-1834), Kimball, Benjamin Ames (1833-1920)

Subjects:

Lafayette, Marquis de