Pindar and Ictinus

Pindar and Ictinus from 1848 at the National Gallery represents two figures from Ingres's monumental Apotheosis of Homer. These were extracted as independent works, reflecting his habit of revisiting and reworking his major compositions throughout his career. Ingres built his oil surfaces through meticulous underdrawing in graphite, then applied smooth, controlled layers that eliminated all visible brushwork—a deliberate rejection of the painterly Romantic style of Delacroix.

The paired classical figures are rendered with Ingres's characteristic precision of contour and idealized form. The smooth, polished surface and controlled palette demonstrate his unwavering Neo-classical standards.