The artwork, titled “Alexis Rene Le Go,” was created by esteemed artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in 1836. Ingres was a prominent figure of the Neoclassicism art movement, which sought to return to the classical style and grandeur of ancient art. As a portrait, this work adheres to the traditions of representing individuals with emphasis on detail and character. The artwork resides within a private collection, indicating that it may not be readily accessible for public viewing and appreciation.
The artwork presents a study in precision and attention to psychological depth, characteristics common in Ingres’s portraiture. The subject, Alexis Rene Le Go, is depicted with clear, fine lines that reveal a serious and focused countenance. His attire is of the period, featuring a double-breasted coat with buttons aligned in two columns, suggesting a formality consistent with 19th-century fashion. He stands with his arm akimbo, holding what appears to be a rolled document or plan, hinting at a possible profession related to scholarship or engineering. There is an unfinished sketch of an architectural detail—an interior door—behind him, which may further allude to his occupational interests or status.
The spare use of shading and absence of color focus the viewer’s attention on the figure’s expression and posture, which emit an air of confidence and self-possession. There is an overall balance between the realism of the depiction and the idealized nature that Neoclassical works often strive for, culminating in a portrait that feels both profound and restrained, capturing the essence of Ingres’s style and the ethos of the time.