HOUDON, Jean-Antoine

Versailles, Yvelines 1741 - Paris 1828

John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones

1930 cast from 1780 original (from owner Allan P. Kirby)

bronze

bust

Dimensions (HxWxD): 23 x 20 ¹⁄₂ x 11 in.

Acc. No.: K 04

Credit Line: Kirby Collection of Historical Paintings, Lafayette College, Easton, PA

Photo credit: ph. courtesy Lafayette College, Easton, PA

© Artist : public domain

© Artist : public domain

Easton, Pennsylvania, Lafayette College

www.lafayette.edu/

Provenance

• 1930, Purchased at the authorization of Fred Morgan Kirby (1861-1940, cofounder of Woolworth's) from the National Museums of the French Republic
• Allan P. Kirby (1892-1973), '15, Collection

Comment

• 1963 booklet about Kirby Collection, Lafayette College, Easton, PA:
  "Historical Sculpture. Kirby Hall of Civil Rights. Jean Antoine Houdon 1741-1828.
  In 1930, at the authorization of Mr. Fred Morgan Kirby, bronze busts of four "Pioneers of the Independence", after Houdon, the greatest sculptor of his day, were purchased from the National Museums of the French Republic. They are mounted on marble pedestals in the lobby of Kirby Hall of Civil Rights.
  These busts have been cast from molds taken from the originals. In every detail as to size and feature they are the same as the original busts which today are at the following places:
  - Franklin in terracotta at the Musée du Louvre, cast in 1778
  - Washington in terracotta at the Musée du Louvre, cast in 1785
  - Lafayette at Château de Versailles, in marble (1790)
  - John Paul Jones at Pennsylvania Academy, Philadelphia, in marble (1780)."

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