An 18th century plaster bust of François-André Danican Philidor (1726-1795), a French composer of Opéra Comique and a famous chess player. To this day, the 'Philidor defence' is still used in chess openings. The front of the plinth is inscribed ith " Philidor". Signed and dated at the rear of the plinth by Augustin Pajou (Paris 1730 – 1809). Pajou was a renown sculptor at the French court of Louis XVI and who made busts of Marie Antoinette and of Madame Dubarry.  Area of Paris, dated 1783.