Michel-Jean Sedaine (1719-1797), poet and dramatist, was a personal friend of Pajou, who also executed a bust of Madame Sedaine (now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).

At the time this bust was made, Pajou was a very successful sculptor in Paris and Sedaine, here aged 56, was a well-established and highly-regarded librettist for opera. The friendship of the two is well documented. This bust is recorded as having been in the possession of Sedaine's family for a long time.

This is a very good example of Pajou's powerful analysis of character, and sensitive, but assured, portrait style.

The dramatist Sedaine was best known for his librettos for comic operas. He is shown here wearing a banyan, a man’s gown, over a shirt open at the neck. This was an informal style of dress worn by men at home, when they were among family and friends. Writers, musicians and artists were often portrayed like this.

Gallery location:
Europe 1600-1815, Room 4, case WN

Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London