Sculpture of the Day: A Bust of Thomas Jefferson, 1789

Thomas Jefferson
Jean-Antoine Houdon
1789
The National Gallery of Art
Washington, D.C.

Since we’re talking about Thomas Jefferson today in a sort of post-President’s-Day salute, let’s take a look at this exceptional marble bust of Jefferson by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.


Houdon was considered the “Sculptor of the Enlightenment” and espoused Neoclassical ideals in his crisp, attractive work. This bust of Jefferson was created in 1789 while Jefferson was still Minister to France. Today, the bust is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.