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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon
Location: Chicago City Hall
Bronze replica cast 1917, from marble original 1788.
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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon
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The original sculpture of George Washington by Jean-Antoine Houdon is located in the rotunda of the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia, and has been copied extensively.
Wikipedia informs.. click here..
The original statue is carved from Carrara marble. It depicts a standing life-sized Washington. In his right hand is a cane, his left arm rests on a fasces on which is slung his cape and sword, and at the back is a plow. He is shown wearing his military uniform, as Washington wished to be depicted in contemporary attire, rather than that of antiquity popular in Neo-classical sculpture. Based on a life mask and other measurements of George Washington taken by Houdon, it is considered one of the most accurate depictions of the subject.
Beginning in the 19th century, numerous copies of the statue have been made in bronze and plaster, with molds often made directly from the original.
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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon
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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon
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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon
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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon
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George Washington statue in London, UK.
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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon in London, UK
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George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon in London, UK
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Statue inscription: “Presented to the people of Great Britain and Ireland by the Commonwealth of Virginia 1924”.
Location: In front of National Gallery, London, UK.
From website OMG Facts.. click here..
In 1921, the state of Virginia sent a replica of a statue by Jean-Antoine Hudon. The City of London decided to put that statue in Trafalgar Square, one of London’s most well-known tourist attractions. There was only one problem: George Washington had publicly said that he would never set foot on English soil. Erecting a statue of his likeness on English soil would’ve violated his desires. Instead, Virginia sent a bunch of American soil along with the statue. The ‘English’ soil was replaced with this ‘American’ soil, and the statue rested on top of it.
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Some other George Washington sculptures I’ve seen..
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- George Washington – by Jean-Antoine Houdon in London, UK
- George Washington – by John Quincy Adams Ward in New York, NY.
- George Washington – by Pompeo Coppini in Austin, Texas.
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Chicago Art Blogger