J.A.D. Ingres, calling card 1819 - 1867

This is the calling card of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, likely created sometime in the mid-19th century. Calling cards were a popular way for members of the upper classes to announce their presence and social standing. Note Ingres's titles inscribed on the card; "Sénateur," indicating his seat in the French Senate, and "Membre de l'Institut" indicating his membership of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Ingres's conservative artistic style was well-regarded by the French state and its institutions. These institutions shaped artistic taste and often served as a route to success for artists like Ingres. The handwritten "mille remerciments" suggests this card was left to express gratitude, offering a glimpse into Ingres's social interactions. Historians use calling cards, letters and diaries to enrich their understanding of an artist's life and the social contexts in which they operated. This card reminds us that the meaning of art is contingent on the culture in which it was made and the institutions that supported it.