Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was born on 29 August 1780 in Montauban, France, into a modest family. His father, Jean-Marie-Joseph Ingres, was a painter and musician, while his mother, Anne Moulet, was the daughter of a wigmaker. Ingres received early instruction in drawing and music from his father. His formal education was disrupted by the French Revolution, and he attended the Académie Royale de Peinture, Sculpture et Architecture in Toulouse from 1791, where he studied under various artists, including Guillaume-Joseph Roques, who greatly influenced his admiration for Raphael.In 1797, Ingres moved to Paris to study under Jacques-Louis David, a leading neoclassical painter. He won first prize in drawing at the Academy and later the Prix de Rome in 1801 for his painting 'The Ambassadors of Agamemnon in the tent of Achilles.' His residency in Rome was delayed until 1806 due to funding issues, during which he developed a distinctive style characterized by purity of contour and a focus on idealized forms. His early works, including portraits, received mixed reviews, with critics often finding his style archaic.In 1824, Ingres achieved significant recognition with 'The Vow of Louis XIII,' which established him as a leader of the Neoclassical movement in France. His subsequent works included notable portraits, such as 'Portrait of Monsieur Bertin' in 1833. Ingres faced criticism for his ambitious history painting 'The Martyrdom of Saint Symphorian' in 1834, which led him to withdraw from public exhibitions and return to Rome as the director of the French Academy.During his time in Rome from 1834 to 1841, Ingres focused on teaching and reorganizing the Academy. He continued to produce significant works, including 'L'Odalisque et l'esclave' and 'The Illness of Antiochus.' In 1841, he returned to Paris, where he received commissions for stained glass windows and continued to teach at the École des Beaux-Arts. His later years were marked by the completion of several important works, including 'The Turkish Bath' and 'The Apotheosis of Napoleon I.'Ingres died on 14 January 1867 in Paris at the age of 86. He is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery. His legacy includes a vast collection of paintings and drawings, which he bequeathed to the city of Montauban, now housed in the Musée Ingres. Ingres's style, characterized by a focus on drawing and idealized forms, influenced many modern artists, including Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, and he is recognized as a pivotal figure in the transition from Neoclassicism to modern art.

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Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres