Bust of Voltaire

Pierre-Philippe Thomire (French, 1751-1843) (Sculptor)

1790

terracotta, alabaster
(18th and 19th Centuries )

Portraits of the writer Voltaire were very popular in the 18th century. Thomire was Houdon's pupil, and based his portrait sculptures of Voltaire on sketches made by his teacher. This small version may have been a model for version in bronze.

This modeled terracotta bust is on an alabaster base.

Inscription

[Signature] On left shoulder: THOMIRE; [Date] On left shoulder: 1790

Provenance

**Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.**

William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

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Geographies

France (Place of Origin)

Measurements

Bust only H: 5 7/8 × W: 4 7/8 × D: 3 15/16 in. (15 × 12.4 × 10 cm); H with both bases: 8 11/16 in. (22.1 cm); H with terra cotta base only: 7 5/16 in. (18.5 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

27.362

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