Ingres et la mode

Exhibition at the Ingres Bourdelle Museum, Montauban, 2 July – 2 November 2026

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780–1867) displayed a particular and highly personal affinity for depicting textiles, whether in the form of drapery or the rendering of the very texture of the fabrics themselves. This inclination likely stemmed from his training as a history painter in David’s studio, where emphasis was placed on such technical exercises. Throughout his career, Ingres chose to paint his models’ clothing himself, in both his history paintings and his portraits. He never delegated this task to his assistants, unlike the furniture or scenery, which were often handled by the studio.

Through an exceptional selection of paintings, drawings, textiles, accessories and period documents, this exhibition catalogue highlights the master’s singular attention to the depiction of fabrics, drapery and clothing, revealing how fashion shapes the viewer’s gaze and artistic composition. It analyses how Ingres elevates the textile material, plays with transparencies, draws inspiration from the trends of his time and engages with art history to imbue his portraits with a timeless modernity. It also demonstrates the influence of Ingres’s painting on 20th- and 21st-century fashion designers such as Castelbajac, Saint Laurent and Issey Miyake.