Portrait of Madame Aymon, La belle Zélie (1806) by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Portrait of Madame Aymon, La belle Zélie - Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres - 1806

Artwork Information

TitlePortrait of Madame Aymon, La belle Zélie
ArtistJean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Date1806
Mediumoil,canvas
Art MovementNeoclassicism
Current LocationMusée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, France

About Portrait of Madame Aymon, La belle Zélie

The artwork titled “Portrait of Madame Aymon, also known as La belle Zélie,” is the creation of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, a renowned artist associated with the Neoclassicism movement. Completed in 1806, this oil on canvas portrait is part of the collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen in Rouen, France. Exemplifying the precision and elegance characteristic of Neoclassical art, the portrait focuses on Madame Aymon, highlighting the fashion and societal ideals of the era.

In the artwork, Madame Aymon is depicted with a serene and composed expression, facing the viewer directly. The portrait is oval in format, which contributes to the intimate and refined atmosphere of the piece. Her hair is styled with prominent looping curls on her forehead, and her attire includes a dark brown or burgundy dress with a low-cut neckline, accessorized with a simple, elegant necklace. Draped over her shoulders is a sumptuous red shawl with visible folds that add texture and depth to the painting. The background is subdued, with hints of a pale, cloud-streaked sky, ensuring that the viewer’s attention remains fixed on the subject herself.

Ingres’s meticulous brushwork and attention to detail are evident in the smooth rendering of Madame Aymon’s skin and the delicate features of her face. The restrained but effective use of color—the contrast between the warm tones of her shawl and the cooler shades of her dress and background—typifies the Neoclassical aesthetic while simultaneously capturing the sitter’s elegance and poise.

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