Origins & Early Life

Jean-Antoine, chevalier Houdon (French: [ʒɑ̃ ɑ̃twan udɔ̃]; 20 March 1741 – 15 July 1828) was a French neoclassical sculptor. Houdon is famous for his portrait busts and statues of philosophers, inventors and political figures of the Enlightenment. Houdon's subjects included Denis Diderot (1771), Benjamin Franklin (1778-1809), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1778), Voltaire (1781), Molière (1781), George Washington (1785–1788), Thomas Jefferson (1789), Louis XVI (1790), Robert Fulton (1803–04), and Napoléon Bonaparte (1806). Houdon was born in Versailles, on 20 March 1741.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1752, he entered the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, where he studied with René-Michel Slodtz, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, and Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. From 1761 to 1764, he studied at the École royale des élèves protégés. Houdon won the Prix de Rome in 1761, but was not greatly influenced by ancient and Renaissance art in Rome. His stay in the city is marked by two characteristic and important productions: the superb écorché (1767), an anatomical model which has served as a guide to all artists since his day, and the statue of Saint Bruno in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Angelica Kauffman — Contemporary (Born in 1741) (1741): Swiss history painter renowned for her successful careers in London and Rome.
• Antonio Vivaldi — Contemporary (Died in 1741) (1741): Master of the Baroque concerto, Vivaldi shaped modern violin and programmatic music.
• Benedict Arnold — Contemporary (Born in 1741) (1741): American-born British officer known for service in the Revolutionary War and subsequent treason.
• DeWitt Clinton — Contemporary (Died in 1828) (1828): Influential American politician, governor, and proponent of the Erie Canal.
• Dugald Stewart — Contemporary (Died in 1828) (1828): Key figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, renowned philosopher and mathematician.
• Ferdinand Cohn — Contemporary (Born in 1828) (1828): Pioneering German biologist, founder of modern bacteriology and microbiology.
• Alex Gorsky — Shared historical date (03-20 · Born) (1960): American businessman, former Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson.
• B. F. Skinner — Shared historical date (03-20 · Born) (1904): Pioneering behaviorist who developed operant conditioning and radical behaviorism.
• Annibale Carracci — Shared historical date (07-15 · Died) (1609): Pioneering Bolognese Baroque painter, founder of a classical style in Rome.
• Anton Chekhov — Shared historical date (07-15 · Died) (1904): Master of Russian literature, celebrated for poignant realism and subtle drama.
• 1741 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1741
• March 20 (03-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 20
• 1828 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1828
• July 15 (07-15) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 15