Portrait du compositeur Auguste-Mathieu Panseron 1815 - 1818

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres made this graphite drawing, Portrait du compositeur Auguste-Mathieu Panseron, in Rome. The portrait appears to be unfinished. The neutral background and the light shading emphasize the clear contours and pure lines of the figure and the face. Notice how Ingres uses line to define form and create a sense of volume, especially in the folds of the jacket and the contours of Panseron’s face. Ingres's work can be seen as a dialogue between classical ideals and the emerging Romantic sensibility. The detailed rendering and the emphasis on line reflect a classical commitment to form and precision. At the same time, the slightly melancholic expression of the subject and the dynamic, loose handling of the graphite suggest a Romantic interest in emotion and individuality. The combination of both elements challenges traditional portraiture.