Description: “The Real Face of Voltaire” See the real face of Voltaire. A Photoshop reconstruction of Jean-Antoine Houdon’s life mask of Voltaire giclee, digital art print by Cheryl A. Daniel (Digital Yarbs). Actual print has NO watermarks. Starting with a high-resolution photograph of the Voltaire life mask created by Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741 –1828); combined with meticulous research into eye color, hair style and color, eyebrows, complexion, etc.; and the magic of Adobe Photoshop this resultant image takes the viewer back to that day in 1778! François-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, his criticism of Christianity—especially the Roman Catholic Church—as well as his advocacy of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. “Voltaire was a versatile and prolific writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, histories, and scientific expositions. He wrote more than 20,000 letters and 2,000 books and pamphlets. He was an outspoken advocate of civil liberties, and was at constant risk from the strict censorship laws of the Catholic French monarchy. His polemics witheringly satirized intolerance, religious dogma, and the French institutions of his day. Voltaire traveled and sat for Houdon several times before the exertion and excitement of his journey took their toll; he died on 30 May 1778.” “In a few sittings, Houdon grasped the expression that captivated contemporaries. The weary face, with its sagging neck and toothless mouth, nevertheless radiates intense mental and spiritual vitality. Penetrating observation, mocking humor, and sorrow show in the lined eyes, lifted brows, and compressed smile. Voltaire’s face epitomizes the quality so often implied in eighteenth-century portraiture — quick, biting wit.” About Digital Yarbs: I'm Cheryl A. Daniel (Digital Yarbs) a Photoshop composition artist who enjoys history. I reconstruct life masks, statues and busts of famous early Americans and historic figures. Using life masks, I completed a forensic/academic study of how the subjects most likely appeared using Adobe Photoshop to add flesh, hair, and other details. My site, yarbs.net features reconstructions and animations of these life masks along with a little history and how the subjects might have looked in daguerreotypes and photographs. About Life Masks: To understand what these historic figures really looked like we cannot rely on paintings as they suffer from “artistic license” and “sympathetic treatment” commonly employed by many contemporary portrait artists. Before photography, the art form of the life mask was the best way to create an exact likeness of an individual. Basically, plaster would be applied to the head and sometimes upper torso to create a mold from which a life mask or bust of the person could be cast. This would result in a three-dimensional, faithful transfer capturing in minute detail the true likeness of the subject. Sculptors John Henri Isaac Browere and Jean-Antioine Houdon cast life masks of George, Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and many other historical figures. Thomas Jefferson endorsed his life mask bust, as did James and Dolley Madison when they saw it several days later. James Madison said of his own life mask, "Per request of Mr. Browere, busts of myself and of my wife, regarded as exact likenesses, have been executed by him in plaister, being casts made from the moulds formed on our persons, of which this certificate is given under my hand at Montpelier, 19, October, 1825." Browere’s casting process utilized a proprietary plaster mixture that due to its lightweight nature did not distort the facial features of his subject’s face as the common plaster utilized by his contemporaries did. This by all accounts resulted in what was considered an extremely accurate likenesses. J. I. Browere’s “work achieved a stark realism uncommon in that day. His plaster busts showed the age-lined brow, the pock-marked face; his subjects appeared as they were, not as artists generally portrayed them. His life masks were, and remain, the most authentic likenesses of some historic figures who lived in a day before photography provided more easily obtained but similarly uncompromising portraits." Digital Yarbs Items: My works are available as postcards, high quality archival giclée prints and limited edition canvas prints numbered and signed with certificate of authenticity. Canvas Prints: Are Limited Edition, Signed and numbered with Certificate of Authenticity. Giclee wrapped canvas 16x20 .75 inch edge, open back with mirror border. Paper Prints: Are Signed, numbered with Certificate of Authenticity and made of Kodak Professional Endura Premier Lustre paper. My signature on the back is signed with an archival acid free ink pen and the blue logo stamp uses archival acid free ink. Postcards: Are 4×6 premium matte. Postcards come as a single card, pack of 10, pack of 25, or pack of 50. Canvases, prints and post cards contain NO watermarks. Free Shipping within 3-5 business day via USPS. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your item, we will completely refund your order. Visit yarbs.net for more information on this image and to see more of my works with life masks. What did the Founding Fathers look like? Can we know for certain? Video will open in a new window Using the mobile app? Copy this link into your browser:
Price: 11.5 USD
Location: Providence, North Carolina
End Time: 2025-02-07T23:35:34.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Artist: Cheryl A. Daniel
Unit of Sale: Single Piece
Signed By: Cheryl A. Daniel
Image Orientation: Portrait
Signed: Yes
Title: The Real Face of Voltaire
Material: Matte Paper
Item Length: 16 in
Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes
Region of Origin: North Carolina, USA
Framing: Unframed
Subject: Voltaire
Type: Print
Year of Production: 2021
COA Issued By: Cheryl A. Daniel
Item Height: 20 in
Theme: History, Militaria, Patriotic, People, Politics, Portrait
Style: Realism
Features: Numbered
Production Technique: Giclée Print
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Time Period Produced: 2020-Now
Available Variations
Color: 5x7
Price: 11.5 USD
Available Quantity: 1
Quantity Sold: 1
Color: 8x10
Price: 22.5 USD
Available Quantity: 1
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: 16x20
Price: 45 USD
Available Quantity: 1
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: 11x14
Price: 33 USD
Available Quantity: 1
Quantity Sold: 0
