Grande Odalisque
Ingres
1814
Ingres is famous for his nudes - and the Grande Odalisque is one of his most celebrated.
Commissioned by Napoleon’s sister, the painting reflects the public's fascination with the Middle East - in particular since Napoleon's victory at the Battle of the Pyramids in 1798.
The painting also marks a significant evolution in the depiction of the nude.
Ingres is taking the female nude - a subject traditionally confined to mythological representations - and transposes it to a contemporary, though exotic, environment.
The painting caused a scandal when it was first exhibited at the Salon of 1819.
Critics derided its exaggerated proportions - such as the elongated neck, the unusually extended spine, the breast seemingly protruding from under the armpit, and the oddly bent leg...
Interestingly, these distortions were deliberately chosen by Ingres - he had initially sketched the figure with conventional proportions.
Her stare is also intriguing - fixing the viewer in a detached or perhaps inviting way - as if challenging the viewer to either come closer or move on.
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