The artwork titled “Comtes de Tournon, née Geneviève de Seytres Caumont” is an exquisite portrait painted in 1812 by the illustrious artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres. This oil on canvas masterpiece is a renowned example of the Neoclassical movement, which emphasizes clarity of form, sober colors, and the idealization of the depicted subjects. The portrait currently resides in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
The subject of the artwork is a woman rendered with meticulous attention to detail, a hallmark of Ingres’s style. She is seated, with her body oriented towards the viewer while she looks off at a slight angle, imbuing the portrait with a serene and contemplative aura. The woman’s attire is evidently of high quality and fashion for the time: she wears a luxurious green velvet dress with a low, square neckline, which is adorned with intricate lacework and a delicate sheer scarf. Her arms are partly draped with the dress’s sumptuous sleeves, and one hand rests gently on the arm of a wooden chair, displaying a modest but fine ring on her finger.
The precision with which the textures and fabrics are depicted is striking; the sheen of the velvet contrasts with the diaphanous quality of the lace and the embroidered shawl that lays across her lap. Her face is rendered with gentle modeling, giving her a soft and approachable expression. Her hair is styled in tight curls framing her face and is partially covered by a light, patterned bonnet, which adds a layer of demure elegance to her appearance.
The composition achieves a balanced blend of formality and warmth, characteristic of Ingres’s sophisticated portrait technique. The dark, subdued background serves to accentuate the luminosity of her skin and the richness of her attire, highlighting the grace and refinement of the sitter, and capturing the spirit of Neoclassical portraiture.