Portrait of Henriette Sontag

Delaroche's Portrait of Henriette Sontag from 1831 depicts the famous German soprano at the height of her European celebrity, when her voice and beauty had made her the most admired opera singer of her generation. Sontag had created the role of Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz and was celebrated in Paris, London, and the German courts for a combination of technical perfection and physical grace that made her concerts and opera performances major social events. The portrait of a celebrated performer by one of the leading salon painters of the period was a natural pairing of public reputations, and Delaroche's sensitive characterization of the singer—her expression conveying the intelligence and sensitivity appropriate to a great musician—goes beyond the purely social function of a celebrity portrait.

The portrait combines Delaroche's smooth, highly finished technique with an emphasis on the sitter's physical beauty and star quality. Rich costume details and warm, flattering light create an image suited to the celebrity culture of early 19th-century Paris.