Self-Portrait

One of the foremost painters of his day, Ingres received critical acclaim for his depictions of French high society. His portraits were frequently compared with photographic daguerreotypes. Based on a known photograph of the artist, this self-portrait — the only one extant by this celebrated painter — demonstrates his engagement with technology in fashioning his self-image. But by thinning his physical frame and coloring his gray hair, the aging artist rendered himself in a more flattering way than the camera did. The glowing eyes, haunting gaze, and fleshy skin of the portrait — all qualities difficult to capture in early photography — further assert Ingres’s belief in the artistic superiority of painting. The painting was originally octagonal, and he expanded it to include his stylish glove and top hat.