Portræt af vedutemaleren og grafikeren Jean-Charles-Chrysostome Pecharman, Baron de Vèze (1788-1854) 1815

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres created this portrait of Jean-Charles-Chrysostome Pecharman, Baron de Vèze, using graphite on paper. Ingres, a master of line, skillfully rendered the Baron’s likeness, focusing on his facial features and clothing. The texture of the paper shows through the drawing, adding depth to the image. The precision and detail achieved with graphite reflect Ingres's academic training and the Neoclassical emphasis on draftsmanship. Graphite, a readily available material, allowed for precise and controlled lines, ideal for portraiture intended for a middle-class audience. The very act of creating a portrait reveals much about social status and patronage during the 19th century. This drawing, while seemingly simple, embodies the economic and social relationships between artist, sitter, and the broader art market, reflecting how the rise of industrial capitalism influenced artistic production and consumption. The choice of graphite and paper, combined with Ingres’s technique, underscores the value placed on skilled labor. The portrait is a product of meticulous work, underscoring the importance of both material and process in artmaking.