Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

In addition to his painting talent, Ingres was an accomplished violinist. He played second violin in the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse from ages 13 to 16, a versatility that later inspired the phrase 'violon d'Ingres'.¹

In 1797, Ingres entered the studio of Jacques-Louis David, the leader of Neoclassicism. While learning his master's rigorous realism, Ingres gradually developed his own style focused on purity of line and form.¹

In 1801, Ingres won the Prix de Rome with 'The Ambassadors of Agamemnon'. Although this entitled him to study in Italy, his departure was delayed until 1806 due to a shortage of state funds.¹

Ingres spent much of his life in Rome and Florence. During his residency in Italy from 1806 to 1824, he studied the works of Renaissance masters intensely, solidifying his artistic foundation.¹

The success of 'The Vow of Louis XIII' at the 1824 Salon established Ingres as the leader of the Neoclassical school in France, bringing him long-awaited fame as a history painter and financial stability.¹

Indignant at the harsh criticism of 'The Martyrdom of Saint Symphorian' in 1834, Ingres left Paris to become director of the French Academy in Rome. He was known for being highly sensitive to criticism.¹

The late masterpiece 'The Turkish Bath' was completed when Ingres was 83. It represents the culmination of his lifelong obsession with the female nude, expressed through mature composition and smooth curves.¹