Sketches of Voltaire at Age Eighty-One

What it is

This is an etching by Vivant Denon made in 1775, showing many small sketched studies of a man's head, drawn from different angles, most wearing wigs or turbans. It was made during Voltaire's lifetime, when he was around eighty-one years old.

Why it matters

Because these sketches were made from life by an artist who observed Voltaire directly, they offer a rare, unfiltered record of his appearance in old age, away from the more formal and idealised portraits made by other artists.

Look closer

• Why might an artist make many quick sketches of the same face instead of one finished portrait?
• What do the different angles and expressions suggest about how the artist studied his subject?
• How does this informal sketch compare to a formal painted portrait of Voltaire?