Le maréchal de Berwick recevant la Toison d’or 1864

Editor: So, this watercolor painting by Ingres, created in 1864, is titled "Le maréchal de Berwick recevant la Toison d’or," or "The Marshal of Berwick Receiving the Golden Fleece." It's impressive how he captures the opulence of the event, even with such a delicate medium. How do you approach a piece like this, given its subject and technique? Curator: I'm interested in what the choice of watercolor, usually relegated to studies or minor works, says about Ingres's approach. Is it a deliberate comment on the grandiose historical narrative, a subversion of expectations through materiality? He presents us with a scene of immense wealth and power, constructed through meticulous application of pigment and paper. We must ask how the physical properties of watercolor contribute to the message being conveyed about wealth, status, and the labor required to create such visual spectacle. How does it sit within the economy of art production in 1864? Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn’t considered watercolor as potentially undermining the subject’s grandeur. So, it’s about the contrast between the event depicted and the… humility, almost, of the medium itself? Curator: Exactly! Look at the layers upon layers to create a sense of depth and the minute detail of the costumes. He's manipulating the materiality of paint and paper to create something that speaks not only to the narrative, but also to the social and economic forces at play in both the scene and the creation of the painting. He's making wealth and status visible, but through careful labor. It invites reflection on the consumption of both the event depicted and the artwork. Do you find any other details that hint at material labor? Editor: Definitely. Seeing how the costumes are rendered in such detail and thinking about the original craft needed to create them in real life helps frame this moment differently. I'll look at historical paintings with different eyes now! Curator: And understanding those connections makes us appreciate Ingres' work in an even more meaningful way.