Attributed to Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (French 1780-1867) "The Suitor" Oil Painting on Canvas. Neoclassical painter, Depicting elderly gentleman gently kissing the hand of a young woman blushing and smiling while sitting on a gothic chair. Signed lower center "Ingres", also name plate on original frame. Measures - 28" wide x 23 1/8" high, total with frame - 36 1/4" wide x 31 1/4" high. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was born on August 29, 1780, the son of a house decorator, painter and sculptor of Montauban, France. At the age of nine he was already turning out drawings of astonishing maturity. His father taught him the rudiments of painting and drawing and made him learn the violin. He studied painting under several local instructors at the Academy in Toulouse; he also played the violin in the orchestra there and was for a time tempted to renounce painting in favor of music. But his teachers foresaw a successful career for him and encouraged him to follow his artistic bent.