September 27, 2019 (Detroit)—The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) welcomes two “Guests of Honor” from the Musée de Louvre by renown French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741–1828), on view October 6, 2019 through May 3, 2020. Created during the “Age of Enlightenment” in the 18th century, Houdon’s terra cotta busts of Benjamin Franklin (1778) and George Washington (1786) are on display in the DIA’s American galleries along with Houdon’s marble bust of Robert Fulton (ca. 1804) from the DIA’s collection and other portraits of Franklin, Washington, and other early American leaders. Visitors can view the works free with museum admission, which is free for residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

Houdon’s bust of Franklin is shown with an early print and a textile representing Franklin and Washington created during the height of his fame as America’s first ambassador to France (1776-85) during the years of the American Revolution. They portray Franklin’s personality with the eccentric clothing that made him a figure of fame throughout his diplomatic mission in Paris, which ultimately won over the French to support the American cause financially and militarily.

Washington is displayed alongside multiple works, including the English textile titled Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington (ca. 1785), on view at the DIA for the first time. This textile depicts Washington and Franklin as heroes and symbols of the early American republic; the design was mass-produced and displayed in many American upper-class homes as bed coverings and curtains. Other portraits of Washington include the DIA’s paintings by Charles Wilson Peale and Rembrandt Peale that highlight the various roles of Washington’s civil service from Revolutionary general, his return to civilian life, to becoming the nation’s first president.

The works are accompanied by an interpretive prompt that invites visitors to explore the men’s complex histories with slavery as they wrestled with individual liberty and freedom they advocated for in the Declaration of Independence.

“This display was specifically designed to serve the curriculum needs of educators that bring their classrooms to the DIA for field trips each year,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA Director. “Art is an important tool for bringing history and culture to life for students, and for this exhibition, we worked directly with teachers to develop meaningful content to help their students connect to America’s past.”

Houdon’s sculptural skills defined his career and earned him fame throughout Europe and America due to his choice of subjects, who had often reached iconic status. The natural and realistic qualities of his works in terra cotta and marble each display the subject’s physical likeness but also their unique personalities and character.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the DIA will host Curator General of Heritage and Assistant Director of the Department of Sculptures at the Musée du Louvre, Guilhem Scherf, for a public lecture on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Marvin & Betty Danto Lecture Hall titled The American Connection: Jean-Antoine Houdon and his Great American Friends, free with museum admission. Educational programming for students will be available throughout the school year, exploring the various themes depicted in Houdon’s portraits and works from the DIA’s collection.

For more information on the lecture, visit dia.org/houdonlecture.