Four Magistrates of Besançon (Quatre magistrats de Besançon)

Four Magistrates of Besançon (Quatre magistrats de Besançon) is a significant collaborative graphic work created in 1825 by the master painter and draftsman Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and the distinguished lithographer Gottfried Engelmann. This piece, classified as a print, utilizes the relatively modern medium of lithography on wove paper, showcasing the rapid expansion of reproductive techniques during the early 19th century. Produced within the period spanning 1801 to 1825, this work offers a valuable insight into French culture and civic life during the Bourbon Restoration.

Ingres, celebrated for his refined draftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, likely provided the original design or sketch for the composition. Engelmann, a key figure in the development of sophisticated lithography in France, translated this drawing into its final graphic form, demonstrating the potential of the medium to replicate subtle shading and portrait clarity. The subject matter depicts four high-ranking civic officials from the city of Besançon, highlighting the importance placed on documenting and honoring local governance and established social order in the post-Napoleonic era.

The lithographic technique employed by Engelmann provides a rich tonal range and intricate line work that retains the clarity characteristic of Ingres's preparatory studies. As an example of early 19th-century French prints, the work holds historical value both for its artistic merit and its documentation of local political portraiture. This fine impression resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it is preserved as an important artifact of artistic and technological collaboration. Today, many fine prints from this era, including the designs created by this influential artistic partnership, have entered the public domain, ensuring broad accessibility for researchers and admirers globally.