Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus, Livia, and Octavia

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres French

Not on view


Reflecting the methods of his teacher Jacques Louis David, Ingres infused his classical scenes with precise archaeological detail and carefully calibrated emotional drama, enhanced here by the nocturnal lighting effects sensitively wrought on blue paper. The drawing depicts Virgil reading the "Aeneid" to the Roman emperor Augustus; his wife, Livia; and his sister Octavia. As the poet recites the words "Tu Marcellus eris" (Marcellus you shall be), Octavia faints into the emperor’s lap. Marcellus is the name of her dead son, whose nude statue presides over the candlelit scene, projecting a ghostly shadow onto the wall. General Miollis, who served Napoleon as governor in Rome, commissioned a related painting in 1811, and Ingres returned to the theme repeatedly over the course of his career.

Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus, Livia, and Octavia, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (French, Montauban 1780–1867 Paris), Pen and black ink, graphite, brush and gray wash, white gouache heightening, Conté crayon on blue paper

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.