Artwork

Portrait of Ingres

Portrait of Ingres, by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, 1854
Portrait of Ingres, by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, 1854

Portrait of Ingres is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1854 by French sculptor Albert‑Ernest Carrier‑Belleuse, this drawing is a portrait of the painter Jean‑Auguste‑Dominique Ingres.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1854 by French sculptor Albert‑Ernest Carrier‑Belleuse, this drawing is a portrait of the painter Jean‑Auguste‑Dominique Ingres. Executed in pencil, the work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the straightforward representational approach typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter appears as an elderly man with a bald head, thin beard and furrowed forehead. His half‑closed eyes and down‑turned mouth convey a contemplative, perhaps austere, demeanor, reflecting Ingres’s reputation as a serious, disciplined artist.

Technique & Style

Carrier‑Belleuse employed a loose, rapid pencil technique, allowing the figure to emerge from light, sketchy strokes. The drawing’s economy of line emphasizes the facial features and expression without extensive shading, highlighting the artist’s skill in capturing likeness swiftly.

History & Provenance

After its creation, the portrait entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Carrier‑Belleuse, a founding member of the Société Nationale des Beaux‑Arts and later an officer of the Legion of Honour, produced the work during a period of active engagement with fellow artists.

Context

The drawing reflects the 19th‑century practice of artists depicting one another, underscoring professional respect within French artistic circles. Ingres, a leading figure of Neoclassicism, was a contemporary whose influence extended to younger creators like Carrier‑Belleuse.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse

Artist

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French pronunciation: ; born Albert-Ernest Carrier de Belleuse; 12 June 1824 – 4 June 1887) was a French sculptor.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.