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Portrait Drawing of Voltaire by D. Teagarden (After Houdon)
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Glossary Roundup
Original Presentation Script
Hello, I'm Minky, and today we're looking at a rather thoughtful piece: a framed portrait of the great French Enlightenment thinker, Voltaire.
This drawing captures the philosopher in his later years, complete with his characteristic cap and draped robe. Art history enthusiasts might recognize this specific likeness—it is a direct drawn copy of the famous 1778 sculpted portrait by the renowned French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Based on the style and presentation, I'd estimate this piece dates to the mid-to-late 20th century.
The artist, D. Teagarden, has used what appears to be graphite or charcoal to render the portrait with careful shading. What makes this piece particularly charming is the inscription below the portrait. It reads, in French, 'Toutes les grandeurs de ce monde ne valent pas un bon ami,' which translates beautifully to 'All the greatness in this world is not worth a good friend.' It's a lovely sentiment from Voltaire's story Jeannot et Colin.
The artwork appears to be in very good condition, safely housed behind glass in a simple, dark frame. While it's difficult to be absolutely certain without examining the paper out of the frame, it does appear to be an original drawing rather than a print.
Given that D. Teagarden seems to be an unlisted or amateur artist, the value here is primarily decorative and historical. I would place an auction estimate for this original drawing between $50 and $150. It's a wonderful piece for a library or study, a quiet nod to the Age of Reason. Remember, as Voltaire himself might say, we must cultivate our own garden—and perhaps hang some nice art in it, too!
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Item Report
Portrait Drawing of Voltaire by D. Teagarden (After Houdon)
Peer review completed, but this run did not return structured market value ranges.
Maker's Marks / Writing:Signed 'D. TEAGARDEN'. Inscribed: 'Toutes les grandeurs de ce monde ne valent pas un bon ami. - François-Marie Arouet, Voltaire 1694-1778'
Date:2026-08-23 11:36:46.843196
Description:
A framed portrait drawing of the French Enlightenment writer and philosopher Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet). The drawing is a two-dimensional rendering based on the famous 1778 sculpted portrait by Jean-Antoine Houdon, depicting Voltaire in his later years wearing a soft cap and draped garment. It is rendered in a realistic style with careful shading and signed 'D. TEAGARDEN' on the right side. Below the portrait is a handwritten inscription in French: 'Toutes les grandeurs de ce monde ne valent pas un bon ami. - François-Marie Arouet, Voltaire 1694-1778', a quote from his tale Jeannot et Colin. The artwork is matted and presented in a simple dark frame.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
This is a competent portrait drawing of Voltaire, likely created by an amateur or lesser-known professional artist named D. Teagarden, copying the famous bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The inclusion of the famous quote adds a nice touch. Its value is primarily decorative, appealing to those interested in literature, philosophy, or French history. Without examining it out of the frame, it is difficult to definitively confirm if it is an original drawing or a high-quality print, though it appears to be an original work on paper.
Individual Images:
whole framed portrait drawing of Voltaire
Provenance:
None provided
Condition:
Very Good (appears to be in good condition within the frame, some glare on glass)
Identification Score: 95%
The subject is clearly identified by the inscription and visual likeness to Houdon's bust, and the artist's signature is legible. The medium appears to be a dry medium like graphite or charcoal.
Authenticity Score: 80%
The piece appears to be an authentic work by the signed artist, D. Teagarden. However, without closer inspection, the possibility of it being a reproduction print cannot be entirely ruled out, hence the slightly lower score.
Image Memory Note
None
None
Keywords
Voltaire, portrait, drawing, D. Teagarden, Jean-Antoine Houdon, French philosopher, Enlightenment, François-Marie Arouet, framed art
The report was edited after initial Artmink draft. Original AI draft preserved in Artmink audit history.
Fair Market Value
Pending structured market values
Replacement Value
Pending structured market values
Archived Matches
No archive matches yet
Research Confidence
Insufficient Data
Peer Review
Key Visible Evidence
The image shows a framed portrait drawing of Voltaire, signed 'D. TEAGARDEN' and inscribed with a French quote. The visual style, matting, and framing suggest a mid-to-late 20th-century origin. The portrait itself is clearly a two-dimensional rendering based directly on Jean-Antoine Houdon's famous 1778 sculpted bust of Voltaire wearing a soft cap and draped robe.
Market and Source Support
Live searches confirm the inscribed quote 'Toutes les grandeurs de ce monde ne valent pas un bon ami' is accurately attributed to Voltaire, originating from his tale 'Jeannot et Colin'. Searches for the artist 'D. Teagarden' yield no significant fine art auction records or institutional holdings, supporting the draft's conclusion that this is an amateur or minor local artist. The visual source is confirmed as Houdon's iconic late-life portrait of the philosopher.
Needs Verification
['Whether the piece is an original graphite/charcoal drawing or a high-quality printed reproduction cannot be definitively determined without inspecting the surface out of the frame under magnification.', "The exact identity and biographical details of the artist 'D. Teagarden' remain unverified."]
Audit Conclusion
The draft report is largely supported in its assessment of the item as a decorative 20th-century piece by a lesser-known artist. However, it misses the key art-historical context that the drawing is a direct copy of Houdon's famous sculpture, which should be incorporated into the final description.
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