Houdon's portrayal of Alexandre Brogniart captures a child's look of wide-eyed wonder and reverie, it's an unforgettable impression. Alexandre became a well known geologist and later in life he became the director of the royal porcelain factory at Sevre. Houdon was a close intimate friend to Alexandre and Louise's father who was a distinguished French architect. When the statues of Alexandre Brogniart (Brohn-yahr) and his sister Louise were acquired by the Louvre in 1898, Andre Michel wrote, "I do not think that the master has ever modeled anything more simple and more delicate, ever caressed the human form in it flower with a hand more knowing and more tender". The children, Alexandre and Louise, sculpted by Houdon are definite personalities meant to complement each other. They have their own thoughts, their own virtues. His talent was marvelous in its capacity for portraying l'innocence of childhood with sentimentality.
