Frederic Sylvester Douglas 1815

Frederic Sylvester Douglas was captured in ink on paper by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in Rome in 1815. During the 19th century, portraiture served as a powerful tool for constructing and communicating social identity. Ingres, a master of Neoclassical precision, renders Douglas with a sharp, focused line, characteristic of his portrait style. But what does it mean to have your portrait drawn? Who gets commemorated and why? Douglas's identity as the son of a prominent Scottish family is subtly communicated through his composed demeanor and tailored clothing, but his gaze is fleeting. Ingres captures not just a likeness, but also a sense of Douglas's place within the socio-economic structures of his time. Through this drawing, we are invited to consider the dynamics of power, representation, and identity in the 19th century and their continued relevance today.