Francois Boucher: paintings by the famous painter

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The world famous French decorator, engraver and painter Francois Boucher was born in the capital of France in September 1703. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who made a living by drawing patterns for embroidery and engravings, and from an early age helped him in the workshop, showing talent in the visual arts. His father, noticing this, sent him to study with the famous engraver Jean Kars.

The beginning of an independent life allowed François to earn money by his own work and to make useful connections with high-profile clients of his teacher.

Career start

In 1720, Boucher continued his studies with the well-known muralist Lemoine at that time, and from 1722 he learned the art of designing prints and books with the help of the instructions of Jean-Francois Cara Sr.

The painter's first serious work came in 1722, when he was commissioned to create illustrations for a new edition of Gabriel Daniel's French History. 1723 broughtthe artist's award: the painting by Francois Boucher "Evil-Merodach, son and heir of Nebuchadnezzar, freeing King Joachim from the shackles" opened the painter's talent to the general public.

Italian holidays and triumphant return

In 1727, Boucher went to Italy in order to replenish his knowledge and better look at the works of famous masters of their craft.

The works of Giovanni Lanfranco and Pietro da Cortona had a great influence on the further work of the artist. Francois Boucher, whose paintings are known to many Rococo fans, synthesized certain traditions and techniques of painting in his works, choosing the style that best suits his character.

Returning in 1731 from Italy, the artist became a candidate for membership in the Royal Academy in the department of historical painting. After 3 years, thanks to the painting "Rinaldo and Armida", he was finally approved as a member of the academy. During the same period, Boucher worked at the Beauvais manufactory.

The 30s and 40s of the 18th century brought the painter numerous official orders for painting apartments in Versailles, in particular in the apartments of the Dauphine, the small apartments, the queen's room.

He also painted the halls of the Royal Library. Taking advantage of the favor of Louis XV and his mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour, Boucher received an order to decorate their residences, as well as the mansions of the nobility close to the court.

What Francois Boucher wrote about

Allegorical and mythological scenes are one of the favorite themes for Francois Boucher. Paintingsthe artist is distinguished by grace, piquant amusement and a certain zest that emphasizes the main idea of the canvas. Also, quite often, the painter chose scenes from rural and, in contrast, urban life for his canvases: for example, fairs, festivities, the fashionable life of we althy Parisians.

The pursuit of perfection and the efforts that Boucher put into his works allowed him to become the head of the Tapestry Manufactory in 1755. He worked very fruitfully: numerous engravings, scenery for performances and operas, painting fans, miniatures, ornamental paintings of porcelain, paintings for the tapestry manufactories of the royal family and, of course, famous illustrations for the books of Boccaccio, Moliere and Ovid brought Francois Boucher well-deserved fame. The artist's paintings are kept in many museums around the world: the Louvre, the Petit Palais, the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon, the St. Petersburg Hermitage, the National Gallery of London, the Prado Museum in Madrid and many others.

The artist's special manner, characterized by sophistication, pretentiousness, a desire to escape from reality, invariably attracts the attention of visitors to museums and galleries.

Knowing well the manners of the Parisian nobility, Boucher nevertheless tried to hide their true desires and vices behind the faces of ordinary rural shepherds.

Francois Boucher: paintings

In 1765, Boucher became "the king's first painter" and was appointed director of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture.

This is probably the highest peak in a career,which the artists of that time dreamed of conquering.

1770 gave the artist another regalia - an honorary membership in the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

Francois Boucher's paintings, with titles that fully reveal their content, captivate with their purity of execution and a special manner that developed in the early years of the artist's work.

Among the most famous works of the painter, it is worth highlighting such works as Pygmalion and Galatea, Love Letter, Jupiter and Callisto, Abduction of Europa, Triumph of Venus, Hercules and Omphala.

The great creator died in May 1770 at the age of 67. The memory of Francois Boucher, whose paintings, paintings, engravings and miniatures inspired more than one generation of young artists, left a noticeable mark on the history of fine arts of the 18th century, will live on in the hearts of connoisseurs of his talent for a long time to come.