3.

Bust of George Washington by Jean-Antoine Houdon 

I have never studied sculpture very in-depth until this semester. One of my classes is Greek and Roman Art History and, along with architecture and painting, sculpture is one of the main things we have been studying. I am so impressed and in awe of sculpture. The contours in the marble, the way the sculptor can make it look so real. The beauty of the shadows and light on the figures face is absolutely amazing. Houdon was a French sculptor who sculpted many prominent figures throughout the 17-1800's. It brings George Washington more to life by making him 3-D. The pose that Houdon chose to place him in is not formal and impersonal. It seems that George has been thinking long and hard about something and that has weighed on his mind. Despite this, his head his high, looking forward and prepared to meet whatever may come his way. The hair, skin, and face look so real. Houdon had a unique way of carving the eyes to make them look as if they were filled with light. He could even distinguish between dark and light eyes based on how he carved them. This bust of George Washington is one of my favorite because, as far as what I've read, it does a good job of capturing his personality.