The artwork entitled “Madame Frederic Reiset, born Augustine Modest Hortense Reiset, and her daughter, Theres Hortense Marie” is an exemplary piece from the Neoclassicism art movement, created by the distinguished artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in the year 1844. It is categorized as a portrait and is presently held within a private collection.
The artwork displays a profound sense of intimacy and familial affection. It portrays Madame Frederic Reiset, whose given names include Augustine Modest Hortense, standing with a serene and poised demeanor. Beside her, her daughter, Theres Hortense Marie, is seen in a gentle embrace around her mother’s waist, her gaze seeming to reflect a quiet reverence or familial bond towards her mother. Both figures are dressed in the fashion typical of the mid-19th century, with Madame Reiset’s attire characterized by a ribbon-tied collar and her hair neatly parted and styled into plaits, while her daughter wears a dress with a full skirt typical of a young girl’s attire of that period.
Ingres’s skill in portraiture is evident in the delicate rendering of their features and the detailed depiction of their clothing. While the artwork exhibits restraint in coloration, with an emphasis on linear quality, a hallmark of Neoclassicism, it nonetheless communicates a rich narrative of the interpersonal connection between mother and child. The artist’s signature and dedication, along with the date, are inscribed at the bottom right, providing a personal touch to the piece. Overall, the composition exhibits the elegance and refinement characteristic of Ingres’s oeuvre.