Grande Odalisque (also known as Une Odalisque or La Grande Odalisque)
Painting on canvas • Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
Style & Movement
Neoclassicism with Romantic and Orientalist influences
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; characterized by smooth, porcelain-like skin finishes (glazing), invisible brushwork, and anatomical distortion for aesthetic harmony
Creation Period
1814
Dimensions & Format
91 cm × 162 cm (36 in × 64 in); Landscape format
Subject Description
A reclining nude concubine (odalisque) seen from behind, looking over her shoulder toward the viewer. The composition includes Orientalist motifs such as a peacock-feather fan, a turban, a hookah (nargile), and heavy blue silk drapery. The anatomical structure of her back is famously elongated by 'two or three extra vertebrae'.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved in a museum environment with visible craquelure consistent with age
Estimated Market Value
Invaluable / National Treasure; if hitting the open market, likely exceeding $200 million USD
Auction Estimate
$150,000,000 - $250,000,000+ USD
Provenance History
Commissioned by Caroline Murat (Queen of Naples and Napoleon's sister); later acquired by the Louvre Museum in Paris (1899) from the collection of Count Pourtalès-Gorgier
Art Historical Significance
A foundational work of the 19th-century Orientalist movement and a masterpiece of Neoclassical portraiture. It marks a transition from strictly Davidian Neoclassicism to the sensuous, exotic focus of Romanticism, profoundly influencing Picasso and Matisse.
Notable Features
Intentional anatomical exaggeration of the spine and pelvis; the signature 'J. Ingres 1814' is visible on the edge of the blue sheet at the lower right; housed in a lavish gilded neoclassical period frame.
Condition Issues
Visible stable craquelure across the dark background and flesh tones; minor yellowing of old varnish layers typical of early 19th-century works.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (50%) and temperature (20°C); UV-filtered lighting; periodic professional monitoring of the varnish state.