Self-Portrait at the age of 79 years old (1859) by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Self-Portrait at the age of 79 years old - Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres - 1859

Artwork Information

TitleSelf-Portrait at the age of 79 years old
ArtistJean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Date1859
Mediumoil,canvas
Art MovementNeoclassicism
Current LocationFogg Museum (Harvard Art Museums), Cambridge, MA, US

About Self-Portrait at the age of 79 years old

The artwork titled “Self-Portrait at the age of 79 years old” is a work by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, dating back to 1859. It exemplifies the Neoclassicism art movement and is crafted using oil on canvas. As a self-portrait, it offers a personal glimpse into the artist’s visage at a late stage in his life. The painting resides within the collection of the Fogg Museum, part of the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.

In this solemn self-portrait, the artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres presents himself with a direct and intense gaze that confronts the viewer. The chiaroscuro effect—a technique that plays with light and shadow—gives a sculptural quality to his face, emphasizing the lines and contours shaped by age. His expression is pensive and introspective, with the furrows on his brow and the downturned lines of his mouth suggesting both resolve and the gravitas of experience. The dark attire he dons is punctuated by the gleaming decorations of his formal wear, perhaps alluding to his achievements and status. The color palette is subdued, with a predominant use of dark tones that highlight the pale complexion of his face. The discernible brushwork in the portrayal of the flesh adds texture and realism to the otherwise stately composition. The dark background further isolates the figure, focusing all attention on the character study facilitated by Ingres’s masterful technique. This work, therefore, not only represents a portrait of the artist at an advanced age but also conveys the broader human themes of aging, legacy, and the introspection that often accompanies the later years of life.

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