It is the play of features which makes the terracotta bust of Reaumur outstanding even among Lemoyne's varied, mimetic achievements. The expression is seized in a positive rictus, the lower half of the face bitten deep into by a trench of wrinkle running down either side of the nose, while the eyes are wide-open and staring. All has been caught as if by flashlight photography, but the vitality persists from whatever angle the bust is studied.
Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683-1757) was a physicist. He carried out research in metallurgy and glass-making, and produced a major work on entomology. His thermometer (with spirit instead of mercury) has 80 degrees between the freezing-point and boiling-point.
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