Madame Marie Marcotte

I saw this painting recently in some book and I have to share it with you - it is one of the weirdest and most elegant portraits I ever seen. Look at Madame's Marcotte hair and her dress. This combination of twisted lines and contrasting colors of the pale skin and red clothes remindes me of... a huge shrimp sitting on a silk cusion. But it is beautiful! Originally from France, Ingres was deeply influenced by Raphael, crafting sensuous, elegant works abounding in calligraphic lines and exceptional texture. Famous for his portraits, Ingres preferred painting women, striving to reveal their inner beauty. He also painted historical and religious subjects, and influenced many future icons, including Degas, Renoir and Picasso.