The artwork titled “Roger Delivering Angelica” was painted by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in 1819. This oil on canvas painting measures 147 x 190 cm and represents the Neoclassical art movement. It falls under the category of literary painting and can be found in the Louvre museum in Paris, France.
The artwork vividly depicts a scene inspired by literary sources, featuring two central figures set against a darker, tumultuous background. On the left, a knight, Roger, is portrayed with wings, wearing ornate armor and a helmet adorned with intricate designs. He is holding a lance firmly that runs diagonally across the composition, symbolically and physically acting as a protector. The knight appears in the act of delivering Angelica, a figure taken from the romantic epics of the time, who is depicted on the right.
Angelica is presented as a nude figure, her body rendered with a softness and delicacy that are characteristic of Ingres’ approach to the female form. She is positioned against a rock, leaning back with her arms above her head and clinging to a chain, suggesting both vulnerability and relief at her imminent rescue. Her face expresses a sense of breathless anticipation or perhaps weariness from her ordeal. The sea churning around the characters adds a dramatic undertone, indicating the peril from which Angelica is being saved. Below Roger, a monstrous figure—presumably part of the danger they are escaping from—is partially visible, its presence adding to the narrative tension of the painting.
Overall, this work reflects the Neoclassical emphasis on clear outlines, smooth brushwork, and a return to classical themes drawn from history and mythology. The composition is dynamic, yet balanced, drawing the viewer into the intense emotional experience of the depicted rescue.