The first example of a statue erected to a living writer, Pigalle's work caused a scandal. The artist sculpted the emaciated naked body of an old man, with no attempt at idealization. Voltaire submitted to the artist's will in the name of artistic freedom. Yet the beauty of the expression on the face and the dynamic pose redeem the decrepit body, illustrating the triumph of mind over matter.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.