The artwork titled “Madame Franz Adolf von Stuerler, born Matilda Jarman” is a neoclassical portrait dated 1861, executed by the renowned artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres. It remains part of a private collection and exemplifies the refined and elegant portraiture characteristic of Ingres’s style within the Neoclassicism movement.
The artwork depicts Madame von Stuerler in a seated position, engaging the viewer with her direct gaze. Her facial expression is serene and marked with subtle nuances, reflecting perhaps a sense of poise and composure. The artist has rendered her features with fine, delicate lines that capture the contours of her face and the softness of her gaze. Ingres’s attention to the richness of textiles is evident in the meticulous depiction of her attire, where the folds of her dress are skillfully drawn to convey the texture and flow of the fabric. Notably, the garment’s sleeves and the ornate details on her bodice suggest a sense of gentility and refined taste, while her hands, placed gracefully in her lap, accentuate the overall elegance of her demeanor.
The portrait radiates a genteel aura, aligning with Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres’s expertise in creating portraits that blended realism with an idealized grace, thus capturing both the likeness and the character of his subjects. Overall, this work is a testament to Ingres’s mastery in portraiture and his influence on the art of his time.