Young girl identified as Anne Audéoud of Geneva (1776–1840)

Art Historical Context

This delicate plaster bust captures the youthful innocence of Anne Audé, a girl from Geneva born in 1776, modeled by the renowned French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon around 1779–80. Standing just 14½ inches tall (with socle, 19½ inches), it exemplifies Houdon's mastery of neoclassical portraiture during the late Enlightenment era. Houdon, celebrated for lifelike sculptures of luminaries like Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin, brought the same precision to this intimate depiction of a child, likely commissioned by her family during his travels or stays in Switzerland. Crafted in plaster—a common material for preliminary models before casting in marble or bronze—this work highlights Houdon's innovative techniques. He achieved remarkable realism through careful observation of facial structure, soft modeling of features, and subtle textural details like the girl's curly hair and ruffled collar, evoking both classical ideals and natural vitality. Such busts were prized in 18th-century European salons as symbols of status and sentimentality toward childhood. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department (bequest of Bertha H. Buswell, 1941), this piece offers a poignant glimpse into private life amid revolutionary times, showcasing how Houdon's art bridged personal portraiture with enduring artistic legacy.