A colossal marble bust of George Washington by French artist Pierre-Jean David, called David d’Angers (1788–1856), in the collection of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens goes on view tomorrow after undergoing conservation analysis that suggests it was in a major fire. This finding supports century-old claims that it is a famous piece with a mysterious past.
As part of her ongoing responsibilities to reexamine and conserve the European art collections at The Huntington, Catherine Hess, chief curator of European art, retained Los Angeles art conservator John Griswold to analyze and clean the bust in late 2010. Griswold’s report noted soiling and staining, possibly with soot; chips that might have “popped” off; and a fine crack across the top of the head that may be the result of high heat exposure from a fire. This information provided scientific evidence that supported what had been argued about the bust in early newspaper articles and other documents but never conclusively proved.
It appears the sculpture, dated 1832, was commissioned by the French government as a gift to the United States. It is documented as having been on display in the Library of Congress, then located on the West Front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., when a devastating fire broke out there in 1851. Blackened and pitted, the work was apparently thought ruined beyond repair and discarded with other debris from the fire. It then reportedly made its way to a residential backyard, where it remained until 1914, when it was sold as scrap marble. The piece later was purchased by a New York art dealer, and its identity as the work from the Capitol building was argued in an article inArt and Archeologymagazine in 1918.
Henry E. Huntington acquired the bust in 1924, but kept it in storage, perhaps becauseTheNew York Timesand other publications criticized the sale of a rediscovered national treasure to a private collector. The U.S. attorney general also made headlines for raising “a question as to the authenticity” of the work.
The bust has been displayed intermittently at The Huntington since 1984. Newly cleaned, it will go on public view in a prominent spot in the Huntington Art Gallery tomorrow, opposite the institution’s renowned life-size bronzeDianaby French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon (1741–1828).
“We always believed what we had was a work of high quality,” said Hess. “David d’Angers was a prolific portraitist whose suave style moved beyond the more austere Neoclassical taste of the turn of the 19th century. I love his work and was eager to put this major, signed piece back on display. The evidence suggesting it had been in the Capitol building makes it all the more exciting. This is an incredible tale that’s played out over almost two centuries, and one we’re thrilled to share with Huntington visitors.”
Mystery surrounding the sculpture remains, however. When Hess contacted curators at the Capitol, they reported they could not find proof that the bust was ever there. But, letters written by David d’Angers, in addition to the historic newspaper clippings, suggest his bust of Washington was, indeed, there at the time of the fire. The artist is quoted as having written, “I read yesterday in an American newspaper of the burning of the Library in Washington; the colossal bust that I sent to America is burnt up.”
In 1904, French officials presented the United States with a bronze copy of the bust as a replacement. The bronze is presently displayed in an entryway to the House Chamber at the Capitol.
The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, Calif., 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday holidays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and major holidays.
Admission on weekdays: $15 adults, $12 seniors (65+), $10 students (ages 12–18 or with full-time student I.D.), $6 youth (ages 5–11), free for children under 5. Group rate $11 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission on weekends and Monday holidays: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, $6 youth, free for children under 5. Group rate $14 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free.
Admission is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of each month with advance tickets.
Information: 626-405-2100 or huntington.org.
As part of her ongoing responsibilities to reexamine and conserve the European art collections at The Huntington, Catherine Hess, chief curator of European art, retained Los Angeles art conservator John Griswold to analyze and clean the bust in late 2010. Griswold’s report noted soiling and staining, possibly with soot; chips that might have “popped” off; and a fine crack across the top of the head that may be the result of high heat exposure from a fire. This information provided scientific evidence that supported what had been argued about the bust in early newspaper articles and other documents but never conclusively proved.
It appears the sculpture, dated 1832, was commissioned by the French government as a gift to the United States. It is documented as having been on display in the Library of Congress, then located on the West Front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., when a devastating fire broke out there in 1851. Blackened and pitted, the work was apparently thought ruined beyond repair and discarded with other debris from the fire. It then reportedly made its way to a residential backyard, where it remained until 1914, when it was sold as scrap marble. The piece later was purchased by a New York art dealer, and its identity as the work from the Capitol building was argued in an article inArt and Archeologymagazine in 1918.
Henry E. Huntington acquired the bust in 1924, but kept it in storage, perhaps becauseTheNew York Timesand other publications criticized the sale of a rediscovered national treasure to a private collector. The U.S. attorney general also made headlines for raising “a question as to the authenticity” of the work.
The bust has been displayed intermittently at The Huntington since 1984. Newly cleaned, it will go on public view in a prominent spot in the Huntington Art Gallery tomorrow, opposite the institution’s renowned life-size bronzeDianaby French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon (1741–1828).
“We always believed what we had was a work of high quality,” said Hess. “David d’Angers was a prolific portraitist whose suave style moved beyond the more austere Neoclassical taste of the turn of the 19th century. I love his work and was eager to put this major, signed piece back on display. The evidence suggesting it had been in the Capitol building makes it all the more exciting. This is an incredible tale that’s played out over almost two centuries, and one we’re thrilled to share with Huntington visitors.”
Mystery surrounding the sculpture remains, however. When Hess contacted curators at the Capitol, they reported they could not find proof that the bust was ever there. But, letters written by David d’Angers, in addition to the historic newspaper clippings, suggest his bust of Washington was, indeed, there at the time of the fire. The artist is quoted as having written, “I read yesterday in an American newspaper of the burning of the Library in Washington; the colossal bust that I sent to America is burnt up.”
In 1904, French officials presented the United States with a bronze copy of the bust as a replacement. The bronze is presently displayed in an entryway to the House Chamber at the Capitol.
The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, Calif., 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday holidays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and major holidays.
Admission on weekdays: $15 adults, $12 seniors (65+), $10 students (ages 12–18 or with full-time student I.D.), $6 youth (ages 5–11), free for children under 5. Group rate $11 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission on weekends and Monday holidays: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students, $6 youth, free for children under 5. Group rate $14 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free.
Admission is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of each month with advance tickets.
Information: 626-405-2100 or huntington.org.
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