Portrait of Madame Récamier

Portrait of Madame Récamier, unfinished portrait that was painted in 1800 and is widely regarded as among the best of the portraits created by French artist Jacques-Louis David.. With its grace, simplicity, and economy, it is also regarded as one of the most successful examples of Neoclassical art.

The subject of the painting, Juliette Récamier, was the darling of Parisian society. She was the wife of a wealthy banker, though she received the attentions of a host of other men. She commissioned this portrait from David, who was the most celebrated artist of his time. She is depicted reclining on a backless sofa, a style that by the end of the 19th century had come to be called a récamier. She wears an Empire-line dress and short hair, which were the height of fashion in France at that time. The woman’s gaze is candid and direct, but her body is turned away, unapproachable.

There are many theories as to why the portrait remained unfinished. Reportedly Juliette was irked by David’s slowness. Another story is that she resented the fact that David lightened the shade of her hair, because it did not suit his color scheme. In any case, she commissioned another portrait from François Gérard. It is said that when he learned of this, David refused to continue. “Madame,” he reportedly declared, “ladies have their caprices; so do painters. Allow me to satisfy mine by keeping your portrait in its present state.” This decision may have been beneficial, for the stark severity of the picture gives it much of its impact. The influence of Portrait of Madame Récamier can be seen in other painting, notably in one of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s most celebrated works, La Grande Odalisque.