The Thirty-Three Heads of Voltaire
|  | I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one:
'O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it.
-François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire |
As a student of philosophy and a lover of French history, I appreciate much of
Voltaire's work, though he certainly isn't my buddy. While he apparently believed in a God, he had an easy habit of mocking religious faith, or rather what he perceived as distracting superstition. But his satire was witty, and his points, though sometimes misguided, were usually well delivered. If you've ever read any of his work, including
Candide, you should also be aware of
The Thirty-Three Heads, which are caricatures of Voltaire in his
declining years:
The heads derive from caricatures produced by Jean Huber (1721 - 1786). For a time Huber lived within Voltaire's household, giving him the opportunity to portray Voltaire in very informal situations: without his wig, in a night cap and without his teeth.
Some believe that it was at this time that Voltaire was at his best.
