{Dainty Art} Francois Boucher

Hello dolls!! Happy Monday, I hope your weekend was bliss!?! Am back with an art post, 1st one of the year I think, haha. And there is a reason I have chosen this one at the moment and you will see on Wednesday. But today, I would like to introduce you - (if you didn't know him already) to Francois Boucher! He was a French 18th century painter, draughtsman, and etcher who worked in the Rococo style, often called "The Grace Painter". Boucher is known for his idyllic and voluptuous paintings of classical scenes, decorative allegories, and pastoral scenes. He was perhaps the most celebrated painter and decorative artist of the 18th century. He also painted several portraits of his patroness, Madame de Pompadour. Besides his pastoral scenes that are so romantic and dreamy, he also added some risque moments in his paintings, some that were cleverly hidden in flowers, fruit and scenery; and others that were just in your face. But, I like that bravery and risk. The women were real shapes and sizes, which is something I also love.

He took his inspirations from such artists such as Peter Paul Rubens and Antoine Watteau. His early work celebrates  the idyllic and tranquil surroundings of nature and glen. However, his art typically forgoes the rural innocence to portray scenes of eroticism as his mythological scenes are passionate and intimately amorous rather than traditional. As well as paintings, he designed costumes and sets and tapestry designs.

Boucher married Marie-Jeanne Buzeau in 1733, they had three children together. Boucher became a faculty member in 1734 and his career skyrocketed from then on as he was promoted Professor then Rector of the Academy, becoming Inspector at the Royal Gobelins Manufactory and finally Premier Peintre du Roi (First painter of the King) in 1765.

Boucher died on May 30th, 1770 in his native Paris.  His name, along with that of his patron Madame de Pompadour, had become synonymous with the French Rococo style, leading the Goncourt brothers to write: "Boucher is one of the men who represent the taste of the century, who express, personify and embody it." 

I could sit and dream in these paintings all day, I hope you like them too & maybe discovered something new. There is so much more to see and learn in books and online. Which painting do you like most? Have a lovely day dolls.

Loves & loves

xoxoxo

(Aurora and Cephalus. 1769)

(The Interrupted Sleep. 1750)

(Madame Berget Boucher. 1746)

(Madame de Pompadour)

(The Four Seasons: Spring.1755)

(Birth of Venus)

(The Love Letter. 1750)

(Above: The Setting of the Sun. 1752)

(Below: The Toilet of Venus. 1751)

♥