Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

(1780-1867)

Jean-August-Dominique Ingres was a French neo-classical painter, and one of the major portrait painters of the 19th century.

His first lessons in art and music were from his father, Joseph Ingres (1755-1814), a miniature-artist and sculptor. In 1791, he entered the Royal Academy of Arts in Toulouse, where his teachers were J. Vigan and G. Roques. Simultaneously he took violin lessons, and played in the local orchestra. After 1797, Ingres was in Paris, in the studio of David. He studied principles of composition and human anatomy.

In 1801, Ingres received a Roman prize for his picture “Ambassadors of Agamemnon” and could go to Italy to continue his education. Because of financial problems he stayed in Paris till 1806; during the period he executed a number of bright and expressive portraits.From 1806 till 1824, the painter lived in Italy, first in Rome (1806-1820), then for four years in Florence; he worked and studied the art of Renaissance; Raphael was his idol. His fame as a portraitist grew; his commissions increased. In 1807-24, he painted a lot of portraits.

In 1813, Ingres married Mlle Madeleine Chapelle (died in 1849), a modest milliner.

The peak of Ingres’ achievement was his women portraits. The artist perfectly expressed the cult of the ideal woman, as the 19th century saw her: woman as an item of art, who commanded the art of communication, art of movements, art of being dressed in accordance with place, time and her natural data. Though not all Ingres’ models were beauties, he found in each one special harmony, attributed only to her are:

Portrait of Countess D'Haussonville

Portrait of Baroness James de Rothschild

Portrait of Madame Gonse

Portrait of Madame Moitessier Sitting

The secret of the charm of Ingres’ portraits is in his love to every model.Ingres was in love with women all his life. In 1852, he married Delphine Ramel, aged 20, at the age of 61. He remained like this till the end – one cold winter day he accompanied a young beautiful model to a carriage, as a gallant man he stayed bareheaded. He caught a cold, which developed into pneumonia, he did not recover – he was 87 years old.

 Suggested Reading
(click on the title for ordering information)

 Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres: 1780-1867

 Karin H. Grimme
 Detailed chronological summary of the artist’s life and work, covering the cultural and historical importance of the artist.

Over 100 color illustrations with explanatory captions.

Concise biography