Study of two hands of Louis XIII

This study of two hands of Louis XIII from 1820 at the Musee Ingres documents the detailed preparatory process for the Vow of Louis XIII. Ingres made numerous studies of individual elements to ensure the accuracy and expressive power of his finished compositions. 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 hand study demonstrates Ingres's extraordinary attention to anatomical detail. The precise rendering of the gesturing hands shows his commitment to accuracy in even the smallest elements of his compositions.