The work Sylvester (Douglas) Lord Glenbervie; Katherine Anne (North) Glenbervie; Frederic (North) Earl of Guilford; Frederic Sylvester Douglas by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, executed in 1815, is a significant example of the French master’s early graphic output. This piece is classified as a print, specifically a lithograph, a relatively new and innovative medium in the early 19th century. It features four distinct portraits arranged together on a single sheet, a format that demonstrates Ingres’s adaptability in composition and his characteristic precision in capturing individual likenesses through detailed delineation.
The subjects depicted are prominent members of the British aristocracy and political establishment. The print captures Sylvester Douglas, Lord Glenbervie, alongside his wife, Katherine Anne North Glenbervie. Also included are Frederic North, Earl of Guilford, and Frederic Sylvester Douglas. Executed during the period 1801 to 1825, this work showcases Ingres's ability to transition effectively between large-scale historical compositions and focused portraiture. Although Ingres was a defining figure of the French Neoclassical school, this commission highlights the international demand for his artistry, capturing influential figures from across Europe during the era following the Napoleonic wars.
This composition of four individual prints represents a crucial moment in the development of 19th-century portraiture, demonstrating the growing viability of graphic arts for reproducing likenesses quickly and economically. Ingres’s commitment to capturing meticulous detail translates effectively to the stone printing process of the lithograph. As a highly referenced example of French art from the era, this image is frequently studied among scholars interested in the rise of graphic prints during the 1800s. The original work resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, making this important historic image widely accessible, often available through public domain resources for scholarship and research.