Important Lafayette Bronze Bust
France, circa 1824–1825 - Height: 11½ inches; base: 6 x 6 inches
 
Finely cast in bronze, this bust of Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, presents the sitter in formal attire with high collar and cravat, rendered with restrained neoclassical clarity and a rich, even patina. The model corresponds to a recognized portrait type produced at the time of Lafayette’s American tour, a likeness widely disseminated across engravings, sulphides, paintings, and snuff boxes, examples of which are also represented in the present catalog.
 
Extremely scarce, with only one other example known to us, reportedly presented to James Monroe during Lafayette’s visit and now preserved in the collection of the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library.
 
Exhibited: Bienvenue au Général Lafayette, The Cabildo, April 9, 2025 – January 18, 2026 (commemorating the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Louisiana).
 
Condition: Excellent; surface well preserved with minimal handling wear.