The Small Bather

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The Small Bather
Image Resource Oil Painting Reprodutions
Artisoo.com
The Small Bather is another famous
oil painting by Jean Auguste Dominique
Ingres. It was finished at the time when Ingres
was studying at the French Academy in Rome. It
experienced the same situation as another great
painting Grande Odalisque when it first exhibited
in public.
Ingres perfectly combined his ideal for classical
beauty and his description of the specific
objects. Among all of Ingres oil paintings that
depicting female
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nudes, The Small Bather and The Source are
undoubtedly the best two. The Small Bather was
painted in 1808 when Ingres was 28
years old. The wonderful sight of womens back
almost made him so excited that he had no much
time for his techniques. The dim tone
quivered in this tender back. Although the
color was original, there was also something
pleasing. The green curtains, light yellow skin,
white sheets and the white and red silk scarf
were arranged one by one on a flat
surface, just like mosaic
ornaments harmoniously intertwined together.
With regards to Ingres's painting, some
critics thought that they were
the continuation of Rafaels perfect lines,
while some regarded them as the announcement
of Picassos distortion painting style. The
great poet Baudelaire praised Ingres has "the
most daring talent though there were also some
criticism saying that Ingres was weird and
arrogant". In fact, as Ingres described himself,
he was a "revolutionary painter who made
innovation on painting ideas and emotional
expression from his heart.
As with the previous, The Small Bather is
shown from behind moreover it shows a calm and
measured sensuality instead of overt sexuality.
The Small Bather depicts a sentimental, plump
young woman. This image reflects
the painters personal aesthetic. The figure
in the painting is in the
correct construction and has delicate skin.
Ingres uses cool neutrals and muted hues that
give a feeling of nobility and tranquility. The
description of the objects is extremely
realistic, reflecting Ingres's superb painting
techniques.
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ather/