Charles-Etienne Gaucher (French, 1741-1804)
after Jean Michel Moreau (French, 1741-1814)
Crowning of Voltaire
INV-3029
Charles-Etienne Gaucher (French, 1741-1804)
after Jean Michel Moreau (French, 1741-1814)1778–82
Crowning of Voltaire
Charles-Etienne Gaucher (French, 1741-1804) after Jean Michel Moreau (French, 1741-1814) →etchingprint
Date
1778–82
Medium
Etching and engraving on paper
Dimensions
Image: 17.7 × 23.5 cm (7 × 9 5/16 in.); Sheet: 20.7 × 23.7 cm (8 3/16 × 9 3/8 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by the Print & Drawing Club
This print depicts an actual event from near the end of Voltaire’s life. After being too ill to appear at the opening performance of his final play, Irène, the 84-year-old author recovered enough to attend the production a few days later. As depicted here, after the play the lead actresses ceremoniously crowned a bust of Voltaire with a laurel wreath, lavished it with kisses, and improvised eulogistic verses in his honor. Voltaire appears in a box at the upper left in his most recognizable profile view, bowing in response to the adulation.