Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) (1694–1778)
Empress Catherine II, a devoted admirer of Voltaire's writings, stimulated his cult in Russia. In response the philosopher dedicated a poem to her. Catherine's reply, dated October 15, 1763, initiated a correspondence that influenced her on many matters until Voltaire's death in 1778. She spared no costs to secure for her collection his library of seven thousand annotated volumes bound in red morocco that include most of his private papers and her own letters to him, most of which are preserved in the public library of Saint Petersburg.
Catherine II commissioned several portraits of Voltaire. In 1784 the intriguing marble Voltaire Seated in an Armchair arrived from Paris and was ceremoniously installed in a grotto at Tsarskoye Selo castle, before it was moved to the Hermitage in 1805. This bust from the world-famous Stroganoff collection in Saint Petersburg was presumably acquired by Count Alexander Sergeyvitch Stroganoff directly from Houdon during the count's years in Paris from 1770 to 1779. It was displayed in Saint Petersburg along with Houdon's bust of Denis Diderot (see 1974.291).
Catherine II commissioned several portraits of Voltaire. In 1784 the intriguing marble Voltaire Seated in an Armchair arrived from Paris and was ceremoniously installed in a grotto at Tsarskoye Selo castle, before it was moved to the Hermitage in 1805. This bust from the world-famous Stroganoff collection in Saint Petersburg was presumably acquired by Count Alexander Sergeyvitch Stroganoff directly from Houdon during the count's years in Paris from 1770 to 1779. It was displayed in Saint Petersburg along with Houdon's bust of Denis Diderot (see 1974.291).
Artwork Details
- Title: Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) (1694–1778)
- Artist: Jean Antoine Houdon (French, Versailles 1741–1828 Paris)
- Date: 1778
- Culture: French, Paris
- Medium: Marble, on grey marble socle
- Dimensions: wt. confirmed: 18 7/8 in., 39 lb. (47.9 cm, 17.7 kg)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman Gift, 1972
- Object Number: 1972.61
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Jean Antoine Houdon
1778
Jean Antoine Houdon
18th century
Jean Antoine Houdon
1782
Multiple artists/makers
19th–early 20th century, cast after a model of 1788
Jean Antoine Houdon
19th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.