Bust of a Man 1740 - 1755

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne the Younger created this expressive bust of a man, rendered in terracotta, during the height of the French Rococo. Lemoyne was the scion of a dynasty of sculptors, and occupied a privileged place in French society. The Rococo period was an era of elaborate ornamentation, and this aesthetic is certainly on display here, in the intricate curls of the sitter’s wig and the subtle folds of his jacket. Yet, this man's gaze is remarkably direct, almost confrontational. It invites us to look, but it also refuses to yield any easy answers. The lack of identifying markers—no name, no date—only heightens the sense of mystery. Who was he? What was his story? Perhaps Lemoyne intended to capture not just an individual likeness, but something more universal about the human condition. It evokes a certain emotional complexity. The piece reflects the intersection of personal identity and broader societal forces.