Study for the Figure of Stratonice 1834 - 1840

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres created this graphite on paper study for the figure of Stratonice amidst the neoclassical revival. Ingres, a staunch defender of academic tradition, was working in a society grappling with revolutionary change. His precise and idealized forms were a direct response to what he viewed as the excesses of Romanticism. This sketch, part of a larger composition, offers a glimpse into the artist’s process, yet also illuminates the complex relationships of power, gender, and representation at play in 19th-century art. Here, Stratonice, the young stepmother of Antiochus, is depicted draped in fabric which both conceals and reveals. Ingres renders the texture and fall of the drapery with remarkable skill, emphasizing classical ideals of beauty and virtue. However, this work is not simply about aesthetics. It also speaks to the prevailing attitudes towards women in a patriarchal society. Stratonice's story, a tale of self-sacrifice and female virtue, was a popular subject for artists seeking to uphold traditional moral values. Ingres uses Stratonice to portray the aesthetic and social values of his time, and also invites us to reflect on the representation of women in art and the cultural norms that shape our perceptions.