George Washington

Object Details

Exhibition Label

Born Westmoreland County, Virginia

In 1784, the French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon agreed to execute a full-length marble statue of George Washington for the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. The following year, he traveled across the Atlantic and spent two weeks at Mount Vernon. While there, he made a life mask of Washington. That mask became the basis for several plaster and terra-cotta busts, including this one.

Nacido en el condado de Westmoreland, Virginia

En 1784, el escultor francés Jean-Antoine Houdon accedió a crear una estatua de George Washington en mármol para el capitolio del estado de Virginia en la ciudad de Richmond. Al año siguiente cruzó el Atlántico y pasó dos semanas en Mount Vernon. Mientras estuvo allí tomó un molde de la cara de Washington que se convirtió la base para varios bustos de yeso y terracota, incluido este.

Provenance

J. William Middendorf, II [b. 1924] and Isabelle P. Middendorf; (Stabilimento Falivo), Vaduz, Liechtenstein; purchased NPG 1978

Date

c. 1786

Artist

Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1741 - 1828

Sitter

George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799

Topic

George Washington: Male

George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War

George Washington: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman

George Washington: Business and Finance\Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer

George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General

George Washington: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US

George Washington: Science and Technology\Surveyor

George Washington: Civilian awards\Congressional Gold Medal

Portrait

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Exhibition

America's Presidents (Reinstallation September 2017)

On View

NPG, South Gallery 240

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Joe L. & Barbara B. Albritton and Robert H. & Clarice Smith

Data Source

National Portrait Gallery

Object number

NPG.78.1

Type

Sculpture

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Medium

Plaster

Dimensions

With Socle: 55.9 x 33.7 x 24.8cm (22 x 13 1/4 x 9 3/4")

Socle Diameter: 14.6cm (5 3/4")

Record ID

npg_NPG.78.1

Metadata Usage

CC0

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm417d9993c-04d6-456e-9593-e372ac483c80