Raphael and Fornarina

"Raphael and La Fornarina" is a notable exemplar of Neoclassicism, created by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres in 1813. The artwork, an oil painting on canvas, represents a poignant scene in which the celebrated painter Raphael sits in his studio, his beloved La Fornarina on his knee. A moving representation of the painter's internal conflict between his affection for his mistress and his passion for art is achieved by Ingres through Raphael's split attention between La Fornarina and his portrait of her. La Fornarina, reciprocating with a seductive stare at the viewer, reinforces her significance in both Raphael's personal and professional realms.