Study for "Raphael and the Fornarina"(?)

Study for "Raphael and the Fornarina"(?) by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres is an intimate preparatory drawing created between 1810 and 1818. This work, rendered meticulously in graphite on white wove paper, exemplifies Ingres’s precise Neoclassical approach to figure drawing. The drawing primarily focuses on the figure of a woman, likely a study for Margherita Luti, better known as La Fornarina, the mistress of the Renaissance master Raphael.

The period of creation aligns with Ingres's productive years in Rome, where he focused on historical subjects and refined his technical mastery of the portrait. As a study, the piece reveals the artist’s process of defining the pose and psychological characterization before committing to the final oil painting, Raphael and the Fornarina. Ingres uses sharp, deliberate graphite lines to emphasize contour and volume, paying particular attention to the structure of the woman's head and the arrangement of her hair, crucial details for the finished composition.

This study stands as a testament to Ingres's commitment to foundational draughtsmanship. He often produced intensive drawings of his subjects to ensure classical accuracy and emotional depth. The drawing highlights the artist's skill in capturing individualized portraits while adhering to the ideals of historical painting. This significant work provides invaluable insight into the French academic tradition and is housed within the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s extensive collection of drawings. Such preparatory works are frequently referenced and reproduced, allowing the public access through museum catalogs and high-quality fine art prints.