Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres was the first son of Jean-Marie-Joseph Ingres who was a partially successful artist; albeit somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades. His mother was Anne Moulet, the daughter of a Master Wigmaker. Born on 29th August 1780 in Montauban Southern France he began his formal artistic studies at the Academy in Toulouse. Then at the age of seventeen he went on to study at the studios of Jacques-Louis David; who considered him to be the most promising of all his students.

His artistic style was forged early on and did not change throughout his artistic lifetime so much as it improved. Already, at the age of seventeen his drawings revealed this artists extraordinary ability. Unquestionably, Jean Ingres was a dedicated, sensitive and Romantic draughtsman who possessed an incredible natural skill. For him (as is the case for all classically trained artists) drawing is the key which unlocks the heart and soul of oil painting.

The catalogue Ingres: Drawings from the Musee Ingres at Montauban and other collections quotes Ingres: "Drawing is not just reproducing contours, it is not just the line; drawing is also the expression, the inner form, the composition, the modelling. See what is left after that. Drawing is seven eighths of what makes up painting”. While his portrait drawings are considered by many historians and collectors to be his true forte: Ingres valued his historical oil painting endeavours above all else: They were his passion.

Jean Ingres would regimentally study his subject through drawing: Repeating his study over and over again until he felt he truly understood his subject – Intent upon realising even the most subtle juxtaposition between one form and another: As Classically trained artists say – We do not look, we see. The drawings of Ingres are particularly sensitive. They emit sensuality, as well as a sensitivity to line and form that would become even more evident in later life: When nude models began to feature more and more in his work.

In 1806 his oil painting‘The Envoys from Agamemnon’ secured him the Prix de Rome from the Academy. Ingres remained in Rome for fourteen years: From 1806 until 1820 he would develop his artistic gift and earn money by drawing concise, skilful portraits, mostly for visitors who came to the city. It is these portraits that are highly revered today: Not so much the historical oil paintings he was so keen to produce. Ingres repeated his more favoured historical themes in his oil paintings over and over. Unlike his contemporaries he avoided historical depictions of mighty battles. In the catalogue In Pursuit of Perfection: The Art of J.-A.-D. Ingres – From the Louisville: J. B. Speed Art Museum in 1983 Ingres is quoted: I prefer "moments of revelation or intimate decision manifested by meeting or confrontation, but never by violence”.

More than four hundred and fifty of his portrait drawings remain in existence today: A majority of which were produced in Italy during his early days. His style is sensitive yet definite and precise. He would use a sharp graphite pencil to capture likeness with minimum lines: His immediately recognisable style was unique and uncanny at the time. The preparatory drawings Ingres produced for his oil paintings are each approached very differently by the artist: Particularly in comparison to his Portraiture.

Jean Ingres was highly revered by his students. His most famous prodigy was Théodore Chassériau who joined his Parisian studios in 1830 at the young and impressionable age of eleven. He would study under Ingres for the next four years until he closed his studios to take up the directorship of the French Academy of Rome. After his departure Chassériau formed an artistic allegiance with Romanticist Delacroix. Ultimately lead to Ingres disowning him: And yet curiously, regardless of this artist’s classical dedication to the depiction of the most idealised, cleanest and most balanced form and proportion – His interest in more exotic subject matter and tendency toward the erotic reflected the interests of the Romantics.

The influence Ingres has had upon generation after generation of artists has been more than notable: Degas, Matisse and Picasso included. American artist Barnett Newman and a significant figure with regards to Abstract Expressionism is quoted as saying: "That guy was an abstract painter... He looked at the canvas more often than at the model”. Without doubt, the oil paintings and portraits of Jean Ingres have become many things to many people all over the world.

Wall Art: – Buy with Confidence.

When we consider that art is about emotion and expression it is no surprise that we can achieve spectacular results with the careful placement of wall art. With wall art you can change the ambiance, mood and style of a room by creating a true reflection of your own personal style.

It is important to remember when choosing wall art that your own style is more important than fashion trends. Pick wall art that suits your personality that suits the purpose for which it was chosen. For example do you want sophistication? Are you trying to create the rustic look? Or do you prefer more traditional? Is it a conversation piece you are after, or a mood calmer? Whatever you desire you can be sure that Arts My Passion will have something to suit.

Our canvas art and oil paintings are painted to the highest standards by artists with at least fifteen years experience. We guarantee you won’t get better quality elsewhere. Whatever your room size, whatever your budget, whatever your style, Arts My Passion has it all.

Our wall art ranges from the modern day contemporary canvas art to the reproduction of traditional oil paintings by the great masters. We can produce custom sizes and custom artworks; our limits are infinite.