Study for the Figure of the Iliad in "The Apotheosis of Homer"

Study for the Figure of the Iliad in "The Apotheosis of Homer" by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres is an exquisite, highly finished preparatory work dating from the decade between 1822 and 1832. This detailed drawing was essential for Ingres’s grand commission: the monumental ceiling painting, The Apotheosis of Homer, destined for the Musée Charles X (now a part of the Louvre). The medium is graphite and black chalk, expertly heightened with white chalk on brown paper, a technique Ingres frequently utilized to establish volumetric light and form before translating the composition into oil paint.

The figure represents the personification of the Iliad, depicted as a classically robed woman holding a sword and shield, symbolizing epic conflict. Ingres, the leading proponent of French Neoclassicism, meticulously delineated the idealized forms and flowing drapery characteristic of ancient sculpture. In the final canvas, this figure is paired with the Odyssey, standing directly below the enthroned Homer, reinforcing the enduring literary power of the poet.

The quality of this study demonstrates Ingres’s absolute command of draftsmanship, showing the subtle tonal modeling achieved by blending the black and white chalks on the mid-toned paper. This rigorous approach was crucial for translating the small study into the massive scale of the completed painting. As a foundational piece for one of the most recognized works of its era, the drawing provides invaluable insight into the artist’s methodology. This important work resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to the historical age and significance of the artist, preparatory works such as this often fall within the public domain, ensuring wide availability for scholarly study and allowing high-quality prints to circulate globally.