The artwork titled “St. Genevieve, patroness of Paris,” created by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in 1844, is an epitome of the Neoclassical art movement which emphasized a return to classical subject matters and an adherence to classical composition and techniques. As a religious painting, it evokes a sense of piety and reverence associated with the genre.
This artwork depicts St. Genevieve standing upright with a serene and composed expression. She is adorned in the traditional garb of a religious figure of her time, with a simple headdress, a dark robe, and a light brown mantle draped over her shoulders. Her right hand is raised gently in a gesture of blessing or teaching, while her left hand holds a book tightly to her chest, suggesting her role as a guardian of wisdom and faith. In the background, a stylized architectural frame, reminiscent of Gothic designs, surrounds her with delicate tracery and patterned borders that exude an ecclesiastical aesthetic. Below her feet lies a lamb, symbolizing her gentleness and the Christian motif of the “Lamb of God.” Her name, ‘St. Genevieve’, is inscribed below, reinforcing her identity and signifying her cultural importance to Paris as its patron saint. The color palette of this artwork is subdued yet profound, capturing the solemnity and the spiritual gravitas of the subject matter.