François Arouet, also known as Voltaire, was a philosopher and writer who left his mark on the Age of Enlightenment through his political commitments. Anticlerical, against religious fanaticism, he is in favour of a liberal monarchy.

Voltaire is treated here in a very disturbing and unusual realistic way.
Geniuses like Voltaire are magnified by sculptors, like gods...
On the contrary, he is an old man, sitting, clinging to his chair... But the artist has managed to give life and strength to his face.

Wax has been used since ancient times to model figures.
The material is also used to make preparatory models.
Wax allows for extreme fineness of detail. Its use developed in the 17th century and extended to bust portraits or medallions.