Portrait of Frederick (North), Earl of Guildford

The Portrait of Frederick (North), Earl of Guildford by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, executed in 1815, is a significant example of the artist's printmaking practice. Classified specifically as an etching, the work demonstrates the precision and linear elegance that define Ingres’s renowned approach to drawing and portraiture, hallmarks of his Neoclassical style.

Created during Ingres’s influential residency in Rome, this piece captures the likeness of Frederick North (1766-1827), a notable figure who served as the 5th Earl of Guildford. The execution of the portrait, characteristic of the high-status Portraits Ingres specialized in, focuses intently on the refined appearance and inherent dignity of the sitter. The print successfully captures the subject's demeanor, crucial for the depiction of Men of high society in the early 19th century.

Unlike his grand oil canvases, Ingres utilized the demanding nature of the etching process to achieve a powerful intimacy, emphasizing strong contour and delicate light modeling over deep shadow. This particular technique allowed him to quickly document the likenesses of his peers and patrons while traveling. The finely etched lines provide sharp detail in the face and clothing, defining the structure of the subject while maintaining a neoclassical austerity. As a key example of historical prints from the period, the work resides within the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving this fascinating facet of Ingres’s prolific career for scholars and the public.