Ingres's Comtesse d'Haussonville

New volume in the Frick Diptych series pairs a contribution by award-winning writer Hilton Als with an engaging essay by Aimee Ng.

When Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780−1867) was asked to paint a portrait of Louise de Broglie, Comtesse d’Haussonville (1818-1882), he was in his sixties and the leader of the neoclassical school. He had little interest in painting society portraits of wealthy young women, but he could not resist. Over the course of three years, he labored over getting this portrait just right, producing some eighty preparatory drawings.

Ingres presents a scene of casual intimacy, as if Louise has just returned home from the opera: her yellow shawl is tossed on the chair at right; her black opera glasses are placed on the mantel; her bright blue evening bag is draped on the mounted porcelain vase behind her. Her gold bracelet and ring are inset with fashionable turquoise, the snake-shaped ring made in a style called à la Cléopatre. Louise was an accomplished writer, though she published anonymously, as requested by her diplomat and politician husband.

Louise treasured this portrait, which was listed among her possessions in her will, second only to the family chateau at Coppet, in Switzerland.