The Ambassadors of Agamemnon in the tent of Achilles
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1801
Why it's great
Greek messengers come to the tent of the hero Achilles, who sulks over a quarrel with his commander, begging him to return to the war. Ingres painted it at 20, as a prize piece in Paris. It's based on Homer's Iliad. It shows how well he'd learned the lessons of ancient sculpture.
Where to see it
📍 Beaux-Arts de ParisParis, France
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was born in Montauban, in southern France, and trained under David in Paris. He spent many years in Italy and in the end died in Paris. He believed in the power of clean, elegant outlines and was a master of portraits. He was also a fine violin player, and the phrase 'Ingres's violin' came to mean a talented hobby.
