Shop art print and framed art La Grande Odalisque by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

The Great Odalisque by Ingres: the origins of a sensual and controversial masterpiece

The Great Odalisque, painted in 1814, is an oil on canvas by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, a major figure of French neoclassicism. Commissioned by Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples and sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, the work was originally intended as a counterpart to another nude, La Dormeuse de Naples, now lost. Unfortunately for Ingres, the fall of the Empire in 1815 meant that the painting was not paid for. Preserved today at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, The Great Odalisque measures 91 cm high by 162 cm wide. Its creation took place in an artistic context where the neoclassical style, with its rigor and ideal of antique beauty, dominated the French art scene. However, Ingres, while adhering to this trend, introduced a sensuality and exoticism that already heralded the emerging Romanticism. The work thus bears witness to a pivotal moment in art history, when classical codes are reinterpreted and enriched by new influences.

The Great Odalisque : An elegant and unsettling composition

The painting features a horizontal composition that highlights the elongated figure of the odalisque, a chambermaid in the service of the ladies of the Ottoman court. Ingres builds his work around curving, sinuous lines that lend the whole a great elegance. The viewer's gaze is immediately drawn to the young woman's nude body, draped in precious fabrics and lit by a soft, diffused light. The background, made up of a curtain and oriental décor, contributes to creating a mysterious and voluptuous atmosphere. The color palette, dominated by cool tones and shades of blue and white, reinforces this impression of sensuality and refinement.

The mystery of The Great Odalisque

At the center of the composition, the odalisque, an emblematic female figure of the fantasized Orient, rests nonchalantly on a divan covered in rich fabrics. Her body, characterized by graceful curves, is painted with great anatomical precision, despite unrealistic elongated proportions. The odalisque's face, turned towards the viewer, is imbued with an enigmatic expression. Her gaze, at once languid and distant, seems to invite the viewer into her intimacy, while maintaining a certain distance. Adorned with precious jewels and topped with a feather-adorned turban, she embodies exoticism and sensuality.

Symbolism and interpretations of The Great Odalisque

The Great Odalisque abounds in symbols that contribute to the richness of its interpretation. The odalisque herself, the oriental figure par excellence, symbolizes the exoticism and fascination with the Orient that pervaded Europe in the early 19th century. The rich fabrics, jewels and accessories that surround her evoke luxury and voluptuousness. The turban, a typical oriental garment, reinforces this exotic dimension. The odalisque's enigmatic gaze, turned towards the viewer, can be interpreted as an invitation to contemplation and reverie. Ingres' work, through this sensual and mysterious female figure, explores themes of beauty, desire and eroticism.

Reception and posterity of The Great Odalisque

From its first exhibition at the Salon of 1819, The Great Odalisque elicited contrasting reactions. While some admired the work's beauty and sensuality, for the most part, the painting was poorly received, with critics criticizing the anatomical liberties taken by Ingres, notably the elongation of the odalisque's back. These criticisms, far from damaging the painter's reputation, helped make The Great Odalisque an iconic and controversial work. The painting thus confirms Ingres as one of the masters of portraiture and the female nude. The Great Odalisque brought a definite influence to Romantic and Symbolist painters, and today remains a major work of 18th-century art history.

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the neoclassicism style.

« La Grande Odalisque » is kept at Louvre, Paris, France.