Pierre Marie François de Sales Baillot 

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres rendered this drawing of Pierre Marie François de Sales Baillot in 1829. Note the symbols of the violin and sheet music, both emblems of harmony and order. Think back to Orpheus, the mythical musician whose lyre could charm beasts and move stones. The violin, a descendant of Orpheus’s lyre, appears throughout history, and the history of musical instruments, symbolizing not just artistry but also civilization. Now, consider David's "Oath of the Horatii," where gestures and objects reinforce the themes of civic duty and patriotism. Similarly, the violin signifies Baillot's dedication to his craft and evokes the ideal of cultivated society. Yet, the act of music-making also channels profound emotion. Just as the Maenads' ecstatic dances in ancient Greece unleashed primal forces, music allows the ordered world to access the subconscious. The image then becomes a site where Apollonian order meets Dionysian fervor, a space of cultural memory and emotional expression. Ingres captures this moment, hinting at the eternal return of symbols in the human psyche.