Eye Candy for Today: Ingres pencil portrait of Adolphe-Marcellin Defresne

Comments

4 responses to “Eye Candy for Today: Ingres pencil portrait of Adolphe-Marcellin Defresne”

1. 

   Pyracantha

   August 25, 2016

   This really looks like it was done from a photograph. And the drawing of the multi-desk at his side (what IS that?) was drawn with a ruler.
   1. 

      Charley Parker

      August 25, 2016

      I think it’s fairly certain Ingres used a straight edge for the “standing desk” (and we thought the idea was new), but I don’t think there is any reliable information about whether Ingres may have used optical aids, like a camera lucida. I don’t think clear, accurate observation on the part of an accomplished artist is as “unnatural” as some people may think — particularly if the artist is working sight-size.
2. 

   Luc Desmarchelier

   August 25, 2016

   Ingres didn’t need a camera to draw, that’s for sure. What is more surprising is the flagrant perspective error of one of the supports of the desk and the bizarre disappearing forearm on his right side!
3. 

   Steve Gilzow

   August 26, 2016

   Defresne reminds me of a dandified young Robert Mitchum.