Sylvester Douglas, Lord Glenbervie - Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

A refined portrait of Sylvester Douglas, Lord Glenbervie, by the French Neoclassical master Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, originally drawn in Rome in 1815.

This portrait depicts Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie, a British politician and lawyer. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres executed the original graphite drawing in Rome in 1815, during his extended stay in Italy. The work captures the sitter in a seated, three-quarter profile, reflecting the artist's focus on precise contour and controlled form. Ingres was known for his ability to render the character of his subjects through minimal, economical lines, a technique that defined his reputation as a master draughtsman.

The composition is restrained, placing the subject against a plain background to direct attention to the facial features and the posture of the sitter. The clothing is rendered with light, suggestive strokes that define the volume of the coat and the texture of the cravat without unnecessary detail. This print is a reproduction of the original drawing, preserving the clarity of the artist's hand. The inclusion of the sitter's name and birth date at the base follows the conventions of 19th-century portrait prints, which were often produced to document the likenesses of public figures for private collections.

Ingres spent many years in Rome, where he supported himself by producing small-scale portrait drawings for visiting members of the British aristocracy and diplomatic circles. These works are noted for their technical discipline and their adherence to the principles of the Neoclassical tradition. By prioritising line over colour, Ingres achieved a clarity that remains a hallmark of his graphic output. This print offers a view into the artist's practice during his formative years in Italy, providing a record of the social and political figures who moved through the city at the time.