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Learn How to Pronounce Jean Antoine Houdon | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Jean Antoine Houdon

Quick Answer: In French, the name "Jean Antoine Houdon" is pronounced [ʒɑ̃ ɑ̃twan udɔ̃].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

Jean Antoine Houdon, born in Versailles in 1741 and a defining figure of French Neoclassical sculpture, was renowned for his unprecedented ability to capture both the precise physiognomy and the vital essence of his subjects. A master of portrait busts and full-length statues, Houdon's work bridged the Enlightenment's intellectual fervor and the classical revival's aesthetic ideals, earning him the title "the sculptor of the Enlightenment." His techniques in marble carving and bronze casting produced remarkably lifelike textures, from the softness of skin to the intricate details of hair and drapery. Houdon's most famous works include his penetrating bust of Benjamin Franklin, created during Franklin's diplomatic mission in Paris, his iconic seated statue of Voltaire at the Comédie-Française, and his celebrated marble portrait of George Washington, carved from a life mask taken at Mount Vernon in 1785. His legacy endures in museums worldwide, such as the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as the preeminent portraitist of 18th-century philosophers, political leaders, and luminaries.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling of the sculptor's name is Jean-Antoine Houdon, with a hyphen between "Jean" and "Antoine." A common alternative, often seen in older English texts or where hyphenation conventions are relaxed, is Jean Antoine Houdon without the hyphen. Frequent misspellings and typographical errors arise from phonetic guesses or autocorrect, resulting in variants such as Jean Anthony Houdon (anglicizing "Antoine"), Jean Antione Houdon (transposing the 'i' and 'o'), or Houdan (substituting an 'a' for the 'o'). The surname is occasionally misspelled as Houdin, likely due to association with the famous magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. Ensuring correct spelling is crucial for academic research and museum catalog searches related to Neoclassical sculpture and 18th-century French art.

Example Sentences

Art historians consistently praise Jean Antoine Houdon for his ability to imbue marble with a sense of breath and intellect, as seen in his bust of Denis Diderot.

During a visit to the Louvre, visitors are often struck by the vivid, conversational immediacy of Houdon's portrait of Voltaire.

The Virginia State Capitol houses Houdon's monumental marble statue of George Washington, considered the most accurate likeness ever created of the first president.

Scholars studying the Enlightenment frequently analyze Houdon's sculptural portraits as visual documents of the era's key thinkers.

His technical mastery is evident in the delicate rendering of lace cravats and finely textured hair in his bronze works.

Many consider Houdon's death mask of Jean-Jacques Rousseau a profound and unflinching study of mortality.

Related Pronunciations


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