This 18th-century sculptor and draftsman certainly tried. In each of his stunning works, his talent and ambition are obvious, emerging from the marble with classical fervor. A major exhibition of his works opens in just a few days. Who was he?
Royal sculptor and Enlightenment draftsman Edmé Bouchardon (1698-1762) was considered by his contemporaries to be one of the greatest artists of his time. He was a major champion of classicism and key proponent of the Neoclassical movement, and his surviving sculptures remain a powerful symbol of the Renaissance’s influence upon centuries of creators.
Late in 2016, Fine Art Today detailed a special exhibition of Bouchardon’s sculpture on view at the Louvre Museum, Paris, entitled “The Sublime Idea of Beauty,” which featured a variety of drawings and sculptures by the artist and was the first major monograph on his oeuvre. The museum wrote, “This exhibition will be an opportunity to comprehend the sculptor’s style, a perfect balance between classical influence and life-like rendering.”
We now have the exciting news to report that the exhibition has moved to the United States and is on view January 10 through April 2 at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California. Under the title “Bouchardon: Royal Artist of the Enlightenment,” this exhibition will also feature a few works not included in the Paris show.
To learn more, visit the J. Paul Getty Museum.
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