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Lot Essay
The marble original by Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828) circa 1781 commissioned by the Masonic Lodge of the Nine Sisters, Paris. Aubry Brothers cast versions of this sculpture circa 1904 with a bronze version in the collection of the US Senate.
John Paul Jones (1747-1792) was a Scottish born American Naval Commander who gained note for his assaults on British shipping during the American War of Independence and is often credited as one of the founding fathers of the modern US Navy. So pleased was Jones with Houdon's likeness of him that he commissioned several plasters to be taken from it one of which he gifted to Thomas Jefferson. A marble version of this bust was sold, North East Auctions, New Hampshire, USA, 17 August 2003, lot 639 ($31,000).
John Paul Jones (1747-1792) was a Scottish born American Naval Commander who gained note for his assaults on British shipping during the American War of Independence and is often credited as one of the founding fathers of the modern US Navy. So pleased was Jones with Houdon's likeness of him that he commissioned several plasters to be taken from it one of which he gifted to Thomas Jefferson. A marble version of this bust was sold, North East Auctions, New Hampshire, USA, 17 August 2003, lot 639 ($31,000).