The artwork entitled “Lady William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, born Lady Mary Acheson I” is a portrait crafted by the renowned artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in the year 1816. This piece is exemplary of the Neoclassicism art movement and is currently housed within a private collection. The genre of this artwork is that of a portrait, capturing the representation of Lady Mary Acheson.
The artwork features a refined sketch of a woman depicted with soft yet precise pencil strokes that convey a sense of delicacy and attention to detail—a hallmark of Ingres’ approach to portraiture. The subject is portrayed with a gentle and direct gaze that engages the viewer, her eyes characterized by a vivid expressiveness. The details in her attire, such as the ruffled neckline and the intricately patterned bonnet adorned with ribbons, reflect the fashion of the early 19th century, and these elements are rendered with a combination of accuracy and artistic flourish.
Her hair is curled in a fashionable style of that era, and the light shading around her face accentuates her features. The draftsmanship of the artist is evident in the treatment of textures and the capturing of form through shading and line work. The light sketchiness of the shoulders and arms suggests this is likely a preliminary drawing or study, with a focus on the facial features and headwear. The precise date and the artist’s signature etched at the bottom corner of the artwork affirm its authenticity and establish its historical context within Ingres’ oeuvre. Overall, the portrait embodies the grace and finesse characteristic of the Neoclassical period, emphasizing idealized beauty and form.
