Terms and conditions of use
Virgin of the Adoption
1858
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Measurements
- 69.5 × 56.8 cm
- Inscription
- inscribed in black paint l.l.: J Ingres P.iXT / 1838 (ÆTaTis) LXXVIII.
- Accession Number
- 2005.164
- Department
- International Painting
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
In honour of Professor Emeritus Sir Gustav Nossal AC, CBE, FAA, FRS, Chairman of The Felton Bequests’ Committee from 1975 to 2004. Felton Bequest, 2005
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited - Gallery location
- 19th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International - About this work
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The notion of ideal beauty exudes from this painting as Ingres deploys the purest forms of line and colour to compose a classicising image of silent sanctity. Yet, she is not presented in a frontal pose typical of Renaissance Madonnas. Instead Ingres paints her with a slight three-quarter stance that allows her head to incline gently. Ingres hints at a more sensual image of the Virgin and disturbs the purity of her features by lifting the eyelids and parting the lips. The more ‘palpable’ rendering of this portrait provides an archetype of the tone sacred art in France adopted during the nineteenth century.
- Subjects (general)
- Human Figures Religion and Mythology
- Subjects (specific)
- Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian character) half figures halos (glories) robes (main garments) three-quarter views women (female humans)
- Movements
- Neoclassicism
- Provenance
- Collection of Alexandre Roland-Gosselin (1786–1866), Paris and Chateau de la Petite Roseraie, Châtenay-Malabry, Hauts-de-Seine, France, 1858–66; by descent to his daughter, Marie Alexandrine Roland-Gosselin (1851–1932), until 1932; collection of Baron and Baroness von Bodem, Vienna; unknown private collection; included in the 19th Century British and European Paintings sale, Phillips, London, 14 June 2000, no 59; private collection, London, 2000; from where acquired for the Felton Bequest, 2005.
Frame
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The frame on Virgin of the Adoption, 1858, is an ogee profiled classical revival frame gilded with gold leaf on a red bole. The minimal ornamentation lies in a finely sanded, narrow flat and patterned sight edge.
The frame came with the painting when it was acquired in 2005. - Framemaker
- Unknown - 19th century
- Materials
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timber, fine sand, composition and gold leaf