Новый источник композиции портрета мадам Рекамье Жака-Луи Давида
New source of the composition of Mme Recamier portrait by Jacques-Louis David

Summary/Abstract: Portrait of Juliette Recamier (1800, Louvre) by Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) is rightly considered as one of the masterpieces of the Neoclassicism. The researchers found different sources of his compositions, including, for example, Etruscan sarcophagi and frescoes by Giulio Romano (c.1499-1546) at Palazzo del Te. However, in this context, it was never mentioned the name of English painter and sculptor John Flaxman (1755-1826). The article presents the hypothesis that illustrations to the “Odyssey” of Homer (1793) made from the drawings by Flaxman had a decisive influence on the development of the composite structure of portrait of Mme Recamier. To substantiate his opinion the author draws a variety of materials. Preparatory sketch for the portrait of Mme Recamier (Boulogne-sur-Mer, Museum of Fine Arts) presents the first version of the portrait’s composition. It defines the model pose, accessories, but David has not yet found the ultimate idea of the composition. The structure of the Louvre picture is quite different. In our opinion, the final version of the portrait of Madame Recamier’s composition has a definite connection with the illustration of Flaxman number 5, representing the dream of Penelope. Under the influence of this work the compositional structure of the painting acquired a pronounced diagonal. Composition became really monumental with a great role of silhouette in it. The shape of lamp and footstool in the portrait of Mme Recamier are the same shape as these items from the illustration number 23 – “Evrikleya recognizes Odysseus”. These accessories were executed by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780-1867), at that time studying in the studio of David. We can assume that Ingres, owning lots of Flaxman engravings, also used them while working on the canvas. Thus, it seems clear, that the final composition of the Mme Recamier’s portrait was influenced by the illustrations to the “Odyssey” after the drawings of Flaxman.

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