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François Boucher

Artist Info
François Boucher(French, 1703–1770)

The son of a painter, Boucher was born in Paris and trained first with his father, then briefly with François Lemoine. In 1723 he won the Academy’s first prize for painting but was denied the sojourn in Rome that normally resulted from the competition. To earn his living the young artist produced reproductive engravings throughout the 1720s, notably after drawings and paintings by Watteau. Returning from a prolonged stay in Rome — where he went on his own — Boucher was accepted into the Academy in 1731, and three years later he was made a full member. Eventually he held the Academy posts of Professor, Rector, and finally Director. Boucher’s marriage in 1734 resulted in two daughters, who married the artists Deshays and Baudouin, and a son, Juste-Nathan, who would specialize in drawing architectural fantasies. Boucher’s work appeared at the Salon of 1737 and frequently thereafter. While his virtuoso productions were much admired, the artist had his critical detractors as well, particularly Diderot, who lamented his lack of naturalness. Boucher was awarded many commissions by the King (including the painting of his Easter eggs) and by Madame de Pompadour. He also held high posts at both the Beauvais and Gobelins tapestry factories and was named “premier peintre” to Louis XV in 1765. Although the content and style of Boucher’s art suggest a sybaritic character, the artist often worked twelve hours a day. He died in his studio in the Louvre. Among his many pupils were Deshays, Fragonard, Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, and Ménageot.

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oil painting of two nocturnal scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts a ch…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.04
oil painting of two scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts a child gazing…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.05
oil painting of two scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts a child holdin…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.06
oil painting of two scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts a child surrou…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.07
oil painting of two scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts two children f…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.08
oil painting of two scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts a child holdin…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.09
oil painting of two scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts a child painti…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.10
oil painting of two scenes surrounded by a decorative border - one scene depicts a child singin…
François Boucher
Date: ca. 1760
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.11
oil painting of a woman in a yellow dress seated next to a man in a blue outfit and red cape in…
François Boucher
Date: 1755
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.12
oil painting of three nude women wrapped in drapery lounging near a fountain
François Boucher
Date: 1755
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.13
oil painting of a woman in a white dress seated next to a man in blue pants and a red vest in a…
François Boucher
Date: 1755
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.14
oil painting of a woman in a sleigh being pushed through the snow by a man
François Boucher
Date: 1755
Medium: Oil on canvas
Object number: 1916.1.15
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