Marble buste of a young girl after HOUDON

Object discription

About 'Marble buste of a young girl after HOUDON'

This is a marble bust of a young girl, in classical style, signed on the back with the name “Houdon”, referring to Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741–1828) – a renowned French sculptor from the 18th century. The bust stands on a contrasting veined marble pedestal, likely Sienna marble.

Title: Bust of a Young Girl (possibly "Fillette" or "L'enfant")
Bust Material: White marble
Base: Veined yellow/black marble (Siena type)
Style: Neoclassical 20ct
Signature: Engraved on the back with "D’après Houdon" (French for after Houdon, indicating a later reproduction of his work)

The inscription “d’après Houdon” indicates this is a later reproduction of a famous original by Jean-Antoine Houdon. He was known for realistic portraits of Voltaire, Rousseau, George Washington, and children portrayed in serene, classical style.

Such busts were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries among collectors and in bourgeois salons, especially in France and Italy.