Ingres and Fashion

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Madame Rivière (detail), 1805, Musée du Louvre, Département des Peintures.

Ingres displayed a particular and highly personal taste for the representation of textiles, whether drapery or the depiction of the fabric itself. This inclination likely stemmed from his training as a history painter in David's studio, which emphasized these technical exercises. Throughout his career, Ingres consistently chose to paint his models' clothing himself, in both his history paintings and portraits. He never delegated this task to his assistants, unlike furniture or decor, which were often handled by the studio.

While the subject of portraiture in Ingres's work has already been brilliantly studied, the question of the painter's specific relationship with fashion has never before been the subject of a dedicated exhibition. Through an exceptional selection of paintings, drawings, textiles, accessories, and period documents, the exhibition highlights the master's singular attention to the representation of fabrics, drapery, and clothing, revealing how fashion shaped his vision and artistic composition.

The exhibition explores how Ingres elevated textiles, played with transparencies, drew inspiration from the trends of his time, and engaged with art history to imbue his portraits with a timeless modernity. It also demonstrates the influence of Ingres's painting on 20th- and 21st-century fashion designers.