Portrait of Mme Delphine Ingres 1855

Curator: Here we have Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres's "Portrait of Mme Delphine Ingres," held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me immediately by its lightness. The pencil work is so delicate; it almost seems to float on the page. Curator: Absolutely. Ingres was celebrated for his draftsmanship. He had a particular way of idealizing his subjects, often elevating them within the bourgeois culture. Editor: The rendering of the fabric is interesting. Look at how much detail he puts into the dress, giving it substance and form, while her face remains much softer. Was this about showing off skill, consumption or something else? Curator: Perhaps a bit of both. Certainly, it speaks to the market for portraiture at the time and the patron's desire to be seen in a particular light. The medium itself, pencil on paper, also allowed for a certain intimacy. Editor: Considering the materiality of the work then, it feels less like a grand statement and more like a personal study. Curator: Indeed, the sketch allows for an interesting window into Ingres's process. Editor: That makes it feel somehow more accessible, wouldn't you say? A glimpse behind the scenes.