Porträt der Madame Moitessier

MADAME MOITESSIER

This portrait was commissioned to celebrate the marriage of Madame Moitessier (1821-1897) to the older businessman Paul-Sigisbert Moitessier (1799-1889). Ingres was reluctant to accept the commission, but changed his mind after meeting the beautiful 23-year-old. He began the painting in 1844 but did not complete it until 1856-slow even by Ingres's exacting standards. Originally the artist intended to show Moitessier's young daughter on her lap, but as years passed, the child grew too big and she disappeared from the painting. Around 1855, the dress, which was previously yellow, became flowered silk to reflect changes in Parisian fashion. Its colours perfectly complement the luxurious surroundings: a plush armchair, silk hand-screen and Japanese vase.

By combining contemporary Parisian clothing and interiors with classical reference (Moitessier's right hand imitates an ancient Roman wall painting of the goddess Arcadia), Ingres seemingly elevates this middle-class woman to the rank of a goddess. Her image can be seen once again in the mirror behind her, where the artist deliberately manipulates pictorial space to offer us a unique double portrait.