New-York tribune., 1911-01-08
HOUDON
His Genius Studied by Two
American Authors.

The student of eighteenth century
French art who desired 10 look into the
career of Jean Antoine HoudOn would
send To the bookseller, confidently ex-
pecting to obtain from him, with only
nominal delay, an exhaustive biography
of that famous sculptor. He would have
his inquiry for his pains. HOudon has
for some occult reason been neglected
by the makers Of memoirs, and it has
been left To a couple Of Americans to
dedicate a volume to him worthy, in its
comprehensiveness. of his genius and
his fame. 1t is a pleasure to announce
the forthcoming publication of this book
by its authors, Mr.. Charles Henry Hart
and Mr.. Edward Biddle, both of Phia-
delphia.
Their work appears to have had its
origin not only in their admiration for
the broad elements i'm Houdon's art, but
i'm a special interest in his relations with
America. It was in 1856 that the sculptor
came 10 this country in company with
Franklin. commissioned to execute the
portrait of Washington which ultimately
took the shape of the superb statue pre-
served to-day in the state Capitol at
Richmond. The story of his brief sojourn
here his return to France, and his pro-
duction of a masterpiece which has ever
since been rcckoned among our most
precious souvenirs Of Washington, is
fairly familiar. But we shall doubtless
Of IA
Life and Works of Jean Antoine Hou-
don" much that has hitherto remained
obscure concerning the artists inter-
course with his greatest sitter. Messrs.
Hart and Biddlc promise us material OBJ
tanned from manuscripts never before
published. They will pay close attention
10 all of Houdon's American works. his
portraits If Franklin, jefferson, Paul
Jones, Robert Fulton and Joel Barlow,
but their study, we gather. will leave
no phase OF the subject untouched.
1t is a rich subject, Houdon enjoyed a
long life. He was eighty-seven when he
died, in 1898. His career had synchro-
rized with some Of the most dramatic de-
volopments in modern history. During
the Revolution he himself came within
an ace of mourning the red wrath of the
violent renOvators of French society.
The human traits of his time got into
lis work. His busts and statues are
brmful of character, from exquisite
studies of infancy like the Incompatible
Mile. Broneniart," I'm the Louvre, to
81.
richer sphere as the renowned vol
taire," which has place apart in the
art collection of the COmedie Francaise.
Character. indeed. was HoudOn's absorb
ing interest. Statesmen and soldiers,
artists and men of letters were his
models. As Lady Dixie says, THE list
of his stters is rollcall of illustrious
names" 1t includes those of Louis XVI
and several members Of his family
! Washington and Napoleon. Gluck and
Rousseau, and among all these eminent
| folk, the ineffable Cagliostro. Moreover
while portraiture chiefly engaged him,
he excelled as well in other fields. His
Diana" at St. Petersburg, in marble
(the statue which is also known In
bronze, one version Of il in the metal
having recently figured in the Yerkes
sale, out of which it was purchased by
Mr.. II. f. Ryan is one of the noblest
nudes of any modern period, and he
showed in pieces like la Frileuse' that
he could be, when he chose. merely light
and charming.
But the versatility, power, and dstinc-
ton of this great sculptor may be the
more fttlngly dwelt upon when Mr. Hart
and Mr.. Blddle shall have published
their book. 1t is delightful TO know that
American authorship has assumed task
the fulfilment OF which should render
substantial service to all who are inter-
ested In sculpture here and abroad. The
volume Is To be richly illustrated with
some thirty large plates in photogravure.
II VIII contain a full catalogue OF Hou-
don's works