42. A terracotta bust of a gentleman France, entourage of François Masson (1745-1807), late 18th - early 19th century Resting on an alabaster pedestal painted in imitation of marble H. 60 cm Total height 70 cm A terracotta bust of a nobleman, French, circle of François Masson (1745-1807), late 18th / early 19th century Resting on an alabaster pedestal painted to resemble marble François Masson specialised in sculpting busts and statues of famous men. Philippe Durey wrote in 1984 that Masson was one of the most renowned artists of his time, along with Chinard and Moitte. Unfortunately, he is almost forgotten today, as most of his work in Paris has been virtually destroyed, leaving only a few monuments in the provinces (P. Durey, 'Bustes du début du XIXème siècle du Néoclassicisme au Romantisme', La Revue du Louvre et des Musées de France, January 1984, pp. 15-21). Our bust should be compared with a terracotta bust of Jean Rodolphe Perronet (1708-1794), the king's first engineer and director of the École des ponts et chaussées, now in the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse (RA 916).