Neoclassicism · 1814
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres 1780–1867
The Louvre · Paris
Ingres lengthens his reclining concubine's spine by impossible vertebrae — anatomy sacrificed to a cool, serpentine line.
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Chapter 1 of 7
Before you lies one of the most quietly provocative paintings in the Louvre. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres completed this in 1814, commissioned by Napoleon's sister Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. He harnesses Neoclassical discipline — cool contour, flawlessly polished surface — and turns it toward an imagined Ottoman harem, blending two worlds that never fully merge.
Where to see it
Paris
Room 702 · Salle Daru · Level 1 · Denon wing
The Hear Art 3D museum guide walks you to it.
Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons.
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