Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres Painting Reproductions 2 of 7

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) was a French Neoclassical painter who is widely regarded as one of the greatest portraitists of the 19th century. He was born in Montauban, France, on August 29, 1780, to a modest family.

Ingres received his formal training in art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse, France. In 1797, he moved to Paris, where he studied under Jacques-Louis David, the leading Neoclassical painter of the time. Ingres quickly developed a reputation for his exceptional talent and attention to detail, and his early works were well-received.

In 1806, Ingres won the Prix de Rome, a prestigious art scholarship that allowed him to study in Rome for four years. While in Italy, he became heavily influenced by the work of Renaissance artists, particularly Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. His paintings from this period, such as "Jupiter and Thetis" and "The Valpinçon Bather," demonstrate his mastery of classical composition and anatomy.

Upon his return to Paris in 1824, Ingres was appointed a member of the French Academy and began to receive numerous portrait commissions from wealthy and influential clients. His portraits were known for their exacting realism and attention to detail, as well as their psychological insight into the sitter's personality.

Ingres also painted historical and mythological subjects, such as "The Apotheosis of Homer" and "The Odalisque," which were characterized by their sensuality and exoticism. Despite his success, Ingres was a controversial figure in the art world, as his adherence to classical principles was seen as outmoded by some of his contemporaries.

Ingres continued to work well into his old age, producing some of his most celebrated works, such as "The Turkish Bath" and "The Source," in his 70s. He died in Paris on January 14, 1867, at the age of 86, and was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Today, Ingres is considered one of the greatest painters of the 19th century and a major influence on later artists such as Edgar Degas and Pablo Picasso. His works are held in numerous collections around the world, including the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.