Alexander the Great presenting Campaspe to Apelles

Alexander the Great presenting Campaspe to Apelles by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, executed in 1810, depicts a celebrated moral narrative from classical antiquity, showcasing Ingres’s early adherence to the Neoclassical tradition. This sophisticated study, classified as a drawing, was created using graphite, brush and brown wash, and is meticulously squared in graphite, indicating that Ingres prepared the composition for transfer or scaling into a larger format painting. The scene captures the moment the Hellenistic ruler, Alexander the Great, demonstrates an unparalleled act of generosity by offering his favored mistress, Campaspe, to his court painter, Apelles. Alexander observes the mutual affection that developed between Campaspe and Apelles while the artist was painting her portrait, placing the value of art and love above personal possession.

The meticulous drafting and restrained emotion in the figures are hallmarks of Ingres’s style, prioritizing the clarity of contour and gesture over Baroque dynamism. The work is not merely a historical illustration but a meditation on the power dynamics between military authority and artistic genius, a subject highly valued during the Empire period.

This crucial preparatory piece resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its detailed execution and historical significance make it a central example of Ingres's academic training and mastery of figure drawing. Recognizing the drawing’s importance, high-quality prints and reference images are frequently distributed through public domain initiatives, allowing students and admirers globally to analyze Ingres’s precise application of wash and line.