Jean-Pierre Cortot, sculpteur

This portrait of Jean-Pierre Cortot from 1815 in Algiers depicts the French sculptor who would become famous for his relief on the Arc de Triomphe. Ingres's portraits of fellow artists reveal a special sympathy for creative temperament that enriches his characteristically precise technique. Having spent nearly two decades in Rome as a student and later as director of the French Academy, Ingres returned to Paris in 1841 as the uncontested champion of classical tradition.

The portrait captures the sculptor with Ingres's refined handling and polished surface. The warm flesh tones and precise contours create a vivid image of artistic personality.