Neo-Classicist Painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Inspired by Homer Quote

A 1p autograph note in French signed by Neo-Classicist painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) as "Ingres" near the center. N.d., n.p. Written on a single leaf of pale blue bifold paper. The inner and outer pages are blank. Expected wear including paper folds, a few extra wrinkles, tiny color chips along the edges, and partially erased pencil notations along the top edge of the first page, else very good to near fine. A light brown water stain touches the last four letters of Ingres's signature, but does not affect its legibility or boldness. 5" x 7.5." Accompanied by a souvenir French stamp depicting Ingres's "Female Nude" (Ca. 1807). Provenance: Ex-Noel Goldblatt (ca. 1926-2003) of the famous Goldblatt's Department Store, to a prominent Los Angeles, California collector.

Ingres paraphrased a quote attributed to Italian Renaissance poet and classical scholar Agnolo Ambrogini (1454-1494). Ambrogini is more commonly known by his nickname Poliziano, or as "Ange Politien" in French.

Translated in full:

"I like to say like Poliziano, in speaking of Homer, that his praises have only just begun:

Ingres."

Ingres almost certainly identified with Poliziano because the two--one an artist and the other a translator--both appreciated the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans.

Ingres was a preeminent artist of the Neo-Classicist School, trained in part by Jacques-Louis David. Ingres represented many iconic scenes from Greek and Roman history and mythology, all the while depicting these historical paintings in a clean, linear, realistic manner inspired by the simplicity of the ancient world.

Poliziano gained recognition for his translation of portions of Homer's "Iliad" into Latin, and he also translated Greek, wrote Italian vernacular poetry, and tutored Lorenzo de Medici's children. The Poliziano quote which Ingres refers to here is unknown, but could have come from the former's Latin essay "Ambra," circa 1485, which praised Homer.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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