The Four Magistrates of Besançon

The Four Magistrates of Besançon is a significant print created in 1825 by the renowned French artist Jean–Auguste–Dominique Ingres, in collaboration with the skilled printer Gottfried Engelmann. This work is executed as a lithograph in black on ivory wove paper, showcasing Ingres's commitment to precision and classical draftsmanship, even when adapting his style to the nuances of printmaking. The choice of lithography, a popular and modern printing technology at the time, allowed for subtle tonal variations and a relatively direct transcription of the artist's precise drawing style.

The subject is a collective portrait of four judicial or civic officials from the city of Besançon. Such commissions were common in 19th-century France, usually designed to commemorate a specific event or honor the officials’ tenure. Though Ingres is primarily known for his grand Neoclassical history paintings and high-society portraiture, this piece demonstrates his attention to detail in smaller-scale formats and his engagement with civic themes. Ingres’s meticulous handling of line and contour, characteristic of his adherence to academic rigor, is highly evident in the composition. The successful execution and dissemination of these artistic prints were greatly facilitated by Engelmann’s mastery of the lithographic process.

This lithograph is categorized as a fine art print and remains an important example of French art from the 1820s. Today, this work resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a valuable document of 19th-century civic portraiture and the burgeoning development of the lithographic process in France. Due to its age and institutional holding, high-resolution versions of this esteemed work are frequently accessible for reference and study through various public domain initiatives.