The artwork “The Kaunitz Sisters Leopoldine Caroline and Ferdinandine” was created by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in the year 1818. As part of the Neoclassical art movement, this work is categorized as both a sketch and study as well as a portrait. The Neoclassical style often showcases a return to classical ideals, featuring crisp lines, clear structure, and a sense of idealized beauty.
In the artwork, three young women are depicted with a striking clarity and graceful poise that is characteristic of Ingres’ skillful draftsmanship. The sisters are arranged in an intimate grouping, suggesting a familial closeness while also displaying their individual personalities through their poses and expressions. The lines are meticulously drawn, with careful attention to detail in the subjects’ attire, featuring fine lace and ribbons that exemplify the fashion of their time.
The central figure is portrayed seated at a pianoforte, drawing a viewer’s gaze directly toward her as the focal point. She is flanked by the two standing figures, each capturing a sense of elegance and refinement. There is an air of composed serenity across the composition, and the lightness of the sketch lines imparts a sense of delicacy to the portrait. As a study, this work may have served to record the likeness and dress of the sisters, highlighting Ingres’ masterful ability to convey texture and depth with subtle pencil strokes.