The Kaunitz Sisters (Leopoldine, Caroline, and Ferdinandine)

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, a master of Neoclassicism, created this intimate graphite drawing of 'The Kaunitz Sisters' in 1818. Though Ingres aspired to be a history painter in the grand tradition of Poussin and David, it is his portraits, both painted and drawn, that are considered his most enduring legacy. This piece exemplifies his exceptional skill in capturing individual likeness and character with delicate precision. Ingres was known for his profound connection to past artistic traditions, yet his expressive distortions of form and space also made him an important precursor to modern art. Here, we see three young women, likely from a prominent family, rendered with a sensitivity that reveals not only their physical features but also hints at their personalities. The medium of graphite on laid paper allowed Ingres to achieve a remarkable subtlety in shading and line, bringing a lifelike quality to the sitters.