Frederic Sylvester Douglas

The work Frederic Sylvester Douglas is a distinctive early print by the master draftsman Jean–Auguste–Dominique Ingres French, 1780–1867. Executed in 1815, this classification is categorized as a lithograph on paper. Lithography, a planographic printing method invented shortly before 1800, offered artists a novel means of reproduction, allowing for subtle gradations and spontaneous line work that often mirrored the quality of drawing. Ingres embraced this emerging technology to capture the detail and psychological depth characteristic of his portraiture studies.

Created in France shortly after the final defeat of Napoleon, this image reflects the continuing influence of Neoclassicism on French art, marked by precise delineation and classical compositional structure. Although Ingres is primarily known for his grand oil paintings and historical tableaux, his numerous prints and drawings are essential to understanding his methodical artistic process. The sensitivity applied to the figure of Frederic Sylvester Douglas exemplifies Ingres’s dedication to linear perfection and anatomical accuracy, hallmarks of his influential style during this transitional era.

The creation of prints such as this facilitated the wider dissemination of artistic concepts in the 19th century. This particular print is held in the prestigious collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key example of the French Neoclassical tradition and the early adoption of lithography. As a historically significant work of art, the image of Frederic Sylvester Douglas is often available for study and reference among public domain collections, ensuring that Ingres’s mastery remains accessible to scholars and enthusiasts worldwide.