Bust of Anne-Marie-Louise Thomas de Domangeville de Sérilly, Comtesse de Pange - Jean Antoine Houdon

Through prior acquisitions of the George F. Harding Collection; the Lacy Armour, Harry and Maribel G. Blum Foundation, Richard T. Crane, Jr. and European Decorative Arts Purchase endowments; Eloise W. Martin and European Decorative Arts Purchase funds; purchased with funds provided by the Woman's Board in honor of Gloria Gottlieb and Mrs. Eric Oldberg; through prior acquisitions of Robert Allerton, Mary and Leigh Block, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Andrew Brown, Miss Janet Falk, J.S. Landon Fund, Brooks and Hope B. McCormick, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Regenstein, Sr., Mrs. Florene Schoenborn, and the Solomon A. Smith Charitable Trust through the Antiquarian Society

European Art Sculpture

"Bust of Anne-Marie-Louise Thomas de Domangeville de Sérilly, Comtesse de Pange" by Jean Antoine Houdon (1780) Marble.

Commentary

"Bust of Anne-Marie-Louise Thomas de Domangeville de Sérilly, Comtesse de Pange" by Jean Antoine Houdon (1780) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. Because the work is spatial, changes in viewpoint and lig ht can noticeably alter its emotional impact. Themes to notice include 18th Century, sculpture. This piece is held in the source collection's Painting and Sculpture of Europe collection. Jean Antoine Houdon is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Jean Antoine Houdon (French, 1741–1828). The work is cataloged within a France cultural context. It is associated with the 18th Century period. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as sculpture, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Marble) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (H.: 89.9 cm (35 1/4 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include 18th Century, sculpture. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/144965

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data