Ursin-Jules Vatinelle (1798–1881)

Ursin-Jules Vatinelle (1798–1881) by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres is an intimate, precisely rendered portrait drawing completed in 1820. Executed entirely in graphite on laid paper, this exquisite classification of drawing exemplifies Ingres’s renowned skill as a draftsman. The subtle yet deliberate use of line and light creates a palpable sense of volume and presence, capturing the sitter with the crisp, unwavering precision that characterizes the Neoclassical ideal championed by the artist.

This portrait of a man, Ursin-Jules Vatinelle, was likely completed during Ingres’s long residency in Rome. During this period, the artist frequently supplemented his income by creating such commissioned portraits for both French and Italian acquaintances, travelers, and officials. The portrait presents Vatinelle in a formal but understated manner, highlighting the details of his high collar and carefully styled hair, elements typical of male fashion during the 1820s. Ingres utilized minimal shading, focusing the viewer’s attention directly on the refined contours of the sitter’s face, demonstrating his strict adherence to academic standards while simultaneously achieving remarkable realism.

Ingres, who prioritized line over color throughout his career, used the humble medium of graphite to achieve a direct and penetrating psychological likeness. Although a drawing, the work possesses the monumentality typically associated with formal oil portraits, solidifying its importance within the artist's expansive portfolio of portraits. This significant piece resides within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. As a major example of Ingres’s work from the early Romantic period, the original work is a key reference point for studying early 19th-century French portraiture. Due to the artwork’s age and historical importance, high-quality prints derived from this public domain masterwork are widely available.