Portrait of Maria Theresa of Savoy - Boizot 1778

Louis Simon Boizot was a prominent French sculptor of the late 18th century. He was born in Paris in 1743 and studied at the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture under Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. Boizot won the Prix de Rome in 1762, which enabled him to study in Italy for four years. On his return to France, Boizot became a member of the Académie Royale and began making sculptures for the royal court. He was appointed sculptor to the king in 1776 and created numerous works for the royal palaces, including the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre. Boizot was known for his neoclassical style, which emphasised classical forms and themes. His works often depicted mythological scenes or historical figures, such as his sculpture of George Washington, which was commissioned by the French government in 1790. During the French Revolution, Boizot's career suffered because of his association with the monarchy. He was briefly imprisoned and his works were removed from public display. However, he was eventually released and continued to produce sculptures until his death in 1809. Today, Boizot's works can be found in museums around the world, including the Louvre, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.