Charles François Mallet, Civil Engineer

"Charles François Mallet, Civil Engineer" by Jean–Auguste–Dominique Ingres (French, 1780–1867) is a highly refined graphite drawing executed on cream wove paper. This classification of drawing exemplifies the precise draughtsmanship for which the French Neoclassical master is renowned, prioritizing clarity of line and rigorous composition above the expressive use of color. The extended creation period, spanning 1809 to 1867, is characteristic of Ingres's process, suggesting that the work may have been a long-term preparatory study or a drawing he returned to for decades of refinement.

The portrait of Charles François Mallet situates the sitter firmly within the formal conventions of Neoclassicism. Ingres was celebrated for his ability to convey the dignity and social standing of his subjects, rendering them with keen psychological insight and an almost sculptural quality achieved through the smooth, unmodulated application of graphite. The depiction of a civil engineer reflects the rising importance of specialized, professional careers during the early to mid-19th century in France, making the piece an intimate and enduring record of Parisian society.

This significant drawing is held in the prestigious collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and provides direct access to Ingres’s foundational drawing technique, which underpinned all his major paintings. Although the original medium is fragile, high-quality images and prints of this historical work are widely available through public domain initiatives, ensuring the continued study of Ingres’s masterful hand for future generations of artists and scholars.