Jean-Antoine Houdon

Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1826) has long been recognized as the greatest European portrait sculptor of the late eighteenth century, flourishing during both the American and French Revolutions as well as during the Directoire and Empire in France. This lavish exhibition catalog, now available in paperback, contains more than 100 color plates and 200 halftones which illustrate every stage of the sculptor's fascinating career. Accompanying the images of Houdon's masterworks are four insightful essays that discuss Houdon's views on art as well as his prominence in the highly varied cultures of eighteenth-century France, Germany, and Russia. From aristocrats to revolutionaries, actors to philosophers, Houdon's amazingly vivid portraits constitute the visual record of the Enlightenment and capture the true spirit of a remarkable age.