George Washington (copy of bust by Houdon)

George Washington (Houdon)
George Washington (Houdon)
Artist	Copy of Houdon bust
Year	1932
Type	bust, sculpture
Dimensions	64 cm × 46 cm × 46 cm (25 in × 18 in × 18 in)
Location	Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis
Owner	Indiana Historical Bureau

George Washington (bust by Houdon) is a public artwork that is a limited edition copy of an original work by French neoclassical sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon^[1] that is on display inside the Indiana Statehouse, which is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The artwork was cast a solid piece of plaster that has been painted white.^[2]

Description

This piece is a bust of the first president of the United States, George Washington. It is made of white plaster, and its dimensions are 25 inches (64 cm) by 18 inches (46 cm) by 18 inches (46 cm).^[2] Washington is portrayed in a toga type drape, gazing upward to the proper left. Washington has no facial lines, and his hair is swept to the rear of his head in a pony tail. On the rear of the bust's base an inscription that reads "1732–1932 George Washington Bicentennial Commission." This bust is a copy of an original bust created from life by French sculptor Houdon.

Historical information

George Washington was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and the first president of the United States. Washington was a statesman, soldier, and surveyor. He was also the Commander-in-chief the Army from June 15, 1775, to December 23, 1783, then again from July 3, 1798, to December 14, 1798. Washington was elected President of the United States and served in that role from April 30, 1789, until March 3, 1797.^[2]

The original bust was sculpted by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon in 1785 at George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, in Virginia. It is believed that Washington posed for the original sculpture. This bust was used as the primary image of George Washington for the Bicentennial Celebration of the first president's birthday in 1932, which was held from February 22 until Thanksgiving of the same year. The inscription on the rear of the bust refers to the Bicentennial Commission that was formed to oversee the celebration. The chief executive officer of the Commission was the Honorable Sol Bloom, who was a member of the US Congress from New York State. President Herbert Hoover was the chairman of the commission.^[1]

The legal status of this piece is the Statehouse Inventories, and the credit line is through the Indiana Historical Bureau with an identification number of 99.2006.020.0069.^[2]

Location history

Originally, this piece was sighted as being placed in an alcove on the second floor of the Statehouse building,^{[clarification needed]} on the outside of the rotunda. It also used to have a bronze nameplate underneath.^[2] Currently, the piece sits in an alcove on the 4th floor of the Indiana Statehouse, and the bronze name plate is not currently being displayed with the bust.

Artist

Jean Antoine Houdon was born March 20, 1742, in Versailles. He was a sculptor in the Neoclassical style and is considered to be the most famous sculptor of the latter half of the 18th century in France.^[3] Houdon was famous for his busts and portrait statues of inventors, philosophers, and political figures of the Enlightenment. Houdon also created sculptures of other famous American founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

Condition

The current condition of the sculpture is good, per assessment completed in April 2006.^[2]

References

^ a b Bloom, Sol. "The George Washington Bicentennial Celebration." Advocate of Peace through Justice 93.3 (1931): 162–65. Print.
^ a b c d e f Fletcher, S., and T. Cromwell. File://C^{[permanent dead link]}:Documents and SettingstcromwellLocal SettingsTempxgprn.htm. Indianapolis, September 25, 2006. HTM.^{[full citation needed]}
^ New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. "Jean-Antoine Houdon". Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.

External links

Photograph of bust in context of alcove and rotunda.
Close up photo of proper right of bust.
Detail photo of proper right of bust.
Detail photo of rear base inscription.
Detail photo proper left of bust.
Photo of bust in alcove-note bronze descriptive plate absent.
The Morgan Library Collections-Catalogue entry for George Washington's living mask created by Houdon^{[permanent dead link]}.
Photos and information on other artworks by Houdon
The Art Institute of Chicago
The J. Paul Getty Museum
Indiana Statehouse Tour Office
l'Écorché (Flayed Man) by Houdon
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mount Vernon

39°46′07″N 86°09′45″W / 39.76848°N 86.16254°W / 39.76848; -86.16254

[advocate-1] Bloom, Sol. "The George Washington Bicentennial Celebration." Advocate of Peace through Justice 93.3 (1931): 162–65. Print.

[statehouse_inventory-2] Fletcher, S., and T. Cromwell. File://C^{[permanent dead link]}:Documents and SettingstcromwellLocal SettingsTempxgprn.htm. Indianapolis, September 25, 2006. HTM.^{[full citation needed]}

[3] New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. "Jean-Antoine Houdon". Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.

v t e George Washington
1st President of the United States (1789–1797) Senior Officer of the Army (1798–1799) Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (1775–1783) Delegate to the Second Continental Congress (1775) Delegate to the First Continental Congress (1774)
Military career Revolutionary War	Military career French and Indian War Jumonville Glen Battle of Fort Necessity Battle of the Monongahela Forbes Expedition Washington in the American Revolution Commander-in-chief, Continental Army Aides-de-camp Washington's headquarters office and sleeping tent Boston campaign Siege of Boston New York and New Jersey campaign Delaware River crossing Battle of Trenton Battle of the Assunpink Creek Battle of Princeton Philadelphia campaign Battle of Brandywine Battle of Germantown Battle of White Marsh Valley Forge Battle of Monmouth Battles of Saratoga Sullivan Expedition Yorktown campaign Siege of Yorktown Culper Spy Ring Newburgh Conspiracy Newburgh letter Asgill Affair Evacuation Day Resignation as commander-in-chief Badge of Military Merit Purple Heart Washington Before Boston Medal Horses Nelson Blueskin
Other U.S. founding events	Initiated, co-wrote, 1769 Virginia Association Initiated, 1774 Fairfax Resolves Continental Association Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture 1785 Mount Vernon Conference Chairman, 1787 Constitutional Convention George Washington's political evolution
Presidency (timeline)	1788–89 United States presidential election First inauguration inaugural bible 1792 presidential election Second inauguration Reception at Trenton Title of "Mr. President" Cabinet of the United States Secretary of State Attorney General Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of War Judiciary Act of 1789 Oath Administration Act Nonintercourse Act Whiskey Rebellion Militia Acts of 1792 Coinage Act of 1792 United States Mint Presidential Succession Act of 1792 United States Capitol cornerstone laying Proclamation of Neutrality Neutrality Act of 1794 Jay Treaty Pinckney's Treaty Slave Trade Act of 1794 Residence Act Thanksgiving Proclamation Farewell Address State of the Union Address 1790 1791 1792 1793 1796 Cabinet Federal judicial appointments John Rutledge Supreme Court nominations
Views and public image	Presidential library The Washington Papers Religious views Washington and slavery Town Destroyer Legacy
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Memorials and depictions	Washington, D.C. Washington state Washington Monument Mount Rushmore Washington's Birthday Purple Heart The Apotheosis of Washington Washington Monument (Boonsboro, Maryland) Washington Monument (Baltimore) George Washington (Houdon) plaster copy George Washington (Ceracchi) George Washington (Canova) George Washington (Greenough) George Washington (Trumbull) George Washington and the Revolutionary War Door Revolutionary War Door Washington Crossing the Delaware The Passage of the Delaware General George Washington at Trenton Washington at Verplanck's Point General George Washington Resigning His Commission Surrender of Lord Cornwallis Unfinished portrait Lansdowne portrait The Washington Family portrait Washington at Princeton paintings George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton Reception at Trenton painting Statues Trenton Battle Monument Princeton Battle Monument Point of View sculpture George Washington on Horseback Austin statue Baltimore statue Boston statue Mexico City statue Morristown statue Newark statue New York City statue Wall Street statue Paris statue Perth Amboy statue Philadelphia statue Portland statue Washington, D.C. statue West Point monument George Washington University Washington University in St. Louis Washington Masonic National Memorial George Washington Memorial Parkway George Washington Bridge Washington and Jefferson National Forests Washington Square Park Arch U.S. Postage stamps Washington-Franklin Issues 1932 bicentennial Currency Washington quarter 50 State Quarters D.C. and territories quarters America the Beautiful quarters American Women quarters Washington dollar Lafayette dollar Silver bullion coins Washington nickel Washington half eagle 250th Anniversary half dollar Mount Rushmore Anniversary coins Mount Washington Cultural depictions George Washington (1984 miniseries 1986 sequel) A More Perfect Union (1989 film) The Crossing (2000 film) We Fight to Be Free (2006 film) Turn: Washington's Spies (2014–2017 series) The War that Made America (2006 miniseries) Washington (2020 miniseries) Hamilton (film)
Related	Bibliography List of articles Founders Online Founding Fathers of the United States Republicanism Federalist Party Federalist Era Virginia dynasty Coat of arms Cherry-tree anecdote River Farm Washington's Crossing Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route 1751 Barbados trip Category Syng inkstand General of the Armies Conway Cabal American Foxhound American Philosophical Society American Revolution patriots Betsy Ross flag Mount Vernon Ladies' Association Mount Vernon replicas George Washington Memorial Building Attempted theft of Washington's skull
Family	Martha Washington (wife) John Parke Custis (stepson) George Washington Parke Custis (step-grandson, adopted son) Eleanor Parke Custis (step-granddaughter, adopted daughter) Augustine Washington (father) Mary Ball Washington (mother) Lawrence Washington (half-brother) Augustine Washington Jr. (half-brother) Betty Washington Lewis (sister) Samuel Washington (brother) John A. Washington (brother) Charles Washington (brother) Lawrence Washington (grandfather) John Washington (great-grandfather) George Reade (2nd great-grandfather) Bushrod Washington (nephew)
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