Description
It is a pair of busts signed Houdon Paris 1785. Also signed Prof G Bessi. It is of a girl named Louise Brogniart and similar bust of her brother, Alexandre Brogniart.
They stand 17" tall and 9" wide. The marble base is 4" tall. The whole sculpture weighs in at 15lbs.
I know nothing about these except what I have listed. I inhereted them.
I have tried to research them on the web but can't find very much. Maybe someone out there will know more.
Re: Houdon Bust 1785
Beautiful...he was often replicated but it may be worth contacting amuseum, like the Met...they have a plaster bust of the girl that looks like the same model, though a different name. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jahd/ho_42.23.2.htm
& the same name a terracotta at the Louvre http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/h/houdon/index.html
Considered to be the best portrait artist of all time, by some...Frenchman Houdon always worked from life...1st modelling his sitter in terra cotta then from the unfired model, he would then make a more durable plaster cast. This cast could then be used to produce marble busts and more plasters. Many of the plasters were given terra cotta patinations, or coatings, to achieve rich surface tones.
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/houdon_jean-antoine.html
Re: Houdon Bust 1785
Thank you mindbogglz. I appreciate the info. I'll send some information to a couple of museums and see where it takes me. Thanks again.
Re: Houdon Bust 1785
You are welcome! Hope you have a real treasure.
Re: Houdon Bust 1785
Hello,
i have a bust of Louise BUT it is white.i also would like to know more about her.