The artwork is a portrait of Auguste Francois Talma, an ensign and the nephew of the famed tragedian Talma, executed by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, a master of the Neoclassicism movement. Neoclassicism, a predominant art movement during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was known for its embrace of classical art’s simplicity, grandeur, and adherence to traditional depictions of its subjects.
The work itself can be classified as a portrait genre piece, capturing the likeness and character of the young ensign. Ingres’ skillful rendering of facial features and the sitter’s attire reveals the minute details and the exquisite sensitivity to form characteristic of Ingress’s portraiture work. Auguste Francois Talma is depicted with a direct gaze, engaging the viewer with confidence and a hint of youthful assuredness. His hair is fashionably tousled, indicative of the period’s style, and his clothing, with a crisply tied cravat, suggests a sense of elegance and formality. The sober palette and the stark contrast between the sitter’s dark attire and the light backdrop further emphasize the individual’s features, making it a compelling representation that draws attention to the personality and status of the subject.