Ingres’ paintings were known for their blend of tradition and a sense of sensuality, much like the work of the master under which he apprenticed, Jacques-Louis David.
Ingres’ father took him to Toulouse in 1791, where he enrolled in the Academy of Painting and Sculpture. He received formal instruction from several notable artists at the academy.
It was during this period that his unique style began to develop, displaying figures that were rendered with amazing detail and attention to the portrayal of the human physique.
From around 1804, he also started producing more portraits that featured delicately colored females with large oval-shaped eyes and subdued expressions.
Upon leaving the academy, Ingres was offered several significant commissions. One of those was from a prominent art patron, General Miollis, who commissioned Ingres to paint the rooms of the Monte Cavallo Palace.
Ingres was finally met with success with the exhibition of The Vow of Louis XIII (1824) at the 1824 Salon. It was lauded by many, yet still received criticism.
Eventually, Ingres would return to Paris in 1841 and would remain there for the rest of his life. He went on to teach at Paris’ Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He regularly took his pupils to the Louvre to see ancient and Renaissance artworks.