The artwork titled “Delphine Ramel, Madame Ingres” is an oil on canvas painting created by the esteemed artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres in 1859. This portrait is a quintessential example of the Neoclassical art movement and measures 63 x 50 cm. Exhibited within the collection of the Oskar Reinhart Foundation in Winterthur, Switzerland, the painting captures the essence of the genre through its representation of the individual depicted.
The artwork portrays Delphine Ramel, the wife of the artist himself, Madame Ingres. Her visage exudes a serene composure, punctuated by an understated elegance that characterizes Ingres’s portraiture style. The sitter’s attire is rich with detail—the luxurious folds of her blue garment contrast with the delicate lace and the soft gossamer sheen of her ruffled sleeves, providing a tactile sense of the textiles’ various textures. A palette of deep blues and creamy whites highlights her gracefully poised figure, while the intricate jewelry adorning her hands and head adds a touch of opulence and personal detail that invites viewers to contemplate her status and personality. The stark, dark background focuses attention on Madame Ingres, whose contemplative gaze seems to extend beyond the confines of the canvas. Ingres’s mastery of form and his meticulous attention to the subtleties of light and shade lend a lifelike quality to the representation, celebrating not only the external beauty but also hinting at the inner life of the model. Through this portrait, Ingres not only captures the likeness but also the societal standing and refined grace of his subject.
