Sheet of Studies with the Head of the Fornarina and Hands of Madame de Senonnes

The Sheet of Studies with the Head of the Fornarina and Hands of Madame de Senonnes by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (French, 1780-1867) is an important example of the artist’s meticulous preparatory process during his early Roman period. Dated between 1814 and 1816, this single drawing combines distinct figurative studies intended for at least two major oil paintings, illustrating Ingres’s practice of recycling motifs.

The work is executed primarily in graphite, utilizing careful stumping to achieve subtle, velvety gradations of shadow and form. It was rendered on light-weight yellowish-tan wove paper, a sheet that was subsequently laid down and perimeter mounted on heavier paper for long-term preservation, reflecting the fragility of 19th-century drawings.

The composition features a detailed study of the head, which is derived directly from Ingres’s depiction of La Fornarina, Raphael’s legendary mistress. This repeated classical study emphasizes Ingres’s profound reverence for Renaissance ideals and his commitment to the primacy of the line. Contrasting this historical homage are the detailed analyses of hands, meticulously drawn as preparatory studies for the contemporary portrait of Madame de Senonnes, which Ingres completed in 1816. The contrast between idealized classicism and precise contemporary observation showcases the dual influences defining French art in this period.

Ingres’s precision in capturing anatomy, whether in classical reference or contemporary portraiture, solidifies his position as a leading exponent of French Neoclassicism. This master drawing, a key artifact detailing the artist’s working method, resides in the respected collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a crucial drawing detailing the working methods of Ingres, high-resolution prints and studies of this work are frequently made available through public domain initiatives worldwide.