A bronze bust of Washington, copy of the Houdon Life-cast, cast by The National fine Art Foundry in 1877. The bust is signed on the right shoulder: HOUDON. LIFE-CAST and on the left shoulder: NAT. FINE ART FOUNDERY./M.J. POWER. FOUNDER./N.Y. This was the first casting made directly from the original plaster model, which was left by Houdon at Mount Vernon. At the time of the 1911 fire in the Capitol, the bust disappeared from the reading room of the State Library and was not returned until 1921. The bust then remained in the office of Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt until 1941 when it was returned to the State Library for exhibition with the Washington manuscripts and relics.

Identifier
VC10865.15

Date Original
1877

Source
New York State Library.

Rights
This record is not part of the New York State Archives' collection and is presented on our project partner's behalf for educational use only. Please contact the home repository for information on copyright and reproductions.