George Washington (copy of bust by Houdon)

Public artwork in Indianapolis, Indiana

George Washington (Houdon)

Artist	Copy of Houdon bust
Year	1932 (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 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.

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). 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.

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.

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.

Location history

Originally, this piece was sighted as being placed in an alcove on the second floor of the Statehouse building, on the outside of the rotunda. It also used to have a bronze nameplate underneath. 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

Main article: Jean Antoine Houdon

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. 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.

References

^ Bloom, Sol. "The George Washington Bicentennial Celebration." Advocate of Peace through Justice 93.3 (1931): 162–65. Print.
^ Fletcher, S., and T. Cromwell. File://C:Documents and SettingstcromwellLocal SettingsTempxgprn.htm. Indianapolis, September 25, 2006. HTM.
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. "Jean-Antoine Houdon". Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.

External links

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

v t e George Washington
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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 History Instructing Youth dollar 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)
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v t e Indiana Statehouse Public Art Collection
Interior artworks	Bust of Abraham Lincoln Bust of Ashbel Parsons Willard Bust of Benjamin Harrison Bust of Calvin Fletcher Bust of Daniel W. Voorhees Bust of Frank O'Bannon Bust of George Rogers Clark Bust of Henry F. Schricker Bust of Matthew E. Welsh Bust of Otis Bowen Bust of Richard Owen Bust of Robert D. Orr Bust of Sherman Minton Bust of Stephen Neal Bust of William H. English Frances Elizabeth Willard George Washington Here I Grew Up Indiana Indiana State Stone Plaque Commemorating First Formal Religious Service, Indianapolis Sarah T. Bolton Spirit of Indiana Values of Civilization Wendell Willkie
Exterior artworks	Abraham Lincoln plaque Christopher Columbus Coal Miner Tulip to Life Thomas A. Hendricks Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial Oliver P. Morton Robert Dale Owen The Westward Journey (Indians, Reaper, Blacksmith, Pioneer Family) George Washington Workers' Memorial Young Abe Lincoln

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