Portrait of Anne Robert Turgot, Baron of Laulne 1778

Jean-Antoine Houdon crafted this portrait bust of Anne Robert Turgot, Baron of Laulne, from plaster. Houdon was a master of capturing likeness and character, and this bust is no exception. Plaster allowed him to work quickly and create a relatively inexpensive likeness of Turgot, a prominent economist and statesman in pre-revolutionary France. Look closely, and you can see the marks of Houdon’s tools – the subtle textures that bring Turgot’s face to life, the crispness of his draped clothing and wig. While marble was the prestige material for sculpture at the time, plaster offered a practical alternative. It also allowed Houdon to create multiple versions of his portraits, catering to a growing market for images of important figures. The use of plaster reflects the changing social and economic landscape of the time, where artistic production was increasingly tied to the demands of the market. This bust is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward portraits are shaped by materials, process, and social context.