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| François Boucher La Toilette 1742 canvas Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid |
"François Boucher (1703-1770) spent three years in Italy, where he familiarized himself with the works of Sebastiano Ricci and Giovanni Pellegrini, which perhaps confirmed his taste for fanciful, loosely painted scenes with fluid colors ... He was a Parisian, like his contemporary Chardin, but one steeped in gaiety, licentiousness, and fashion."
André Chastel in French Art (Flammarion, 1996) goes on to assert that "as of 1750-1760" Boucher and his followers provoked "a lively international reaction in England (ironic and defiant) and Germany (scandalized by the frivolous, insufficiently intellectual aspect of average French output). But French activity, nevertheless, drew foreigners. There was the Salon with its informative pamphlets, sales with their catalogues, and a whole series of events that spurred the curiosity, speculation, and pleasure of connoisseurs and others. Paris became an indispensable – or rather tangible – part of European artistic life."
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| Jean-Marc Nattier Portrait of Francis Greville 1741 oil on canvas private collection |
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| Jean-Marc Nattier Portrait of Henriette de France as Flora 1742 oil on canvas Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence |
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| Jean-Marc Nattier Portrait of Marie-Adelaide de France as Diana 1745 oil on canvas Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence |
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| Jean-Marc Nattier Portrait of Madame Bouret as Diana 1745 oil on canvas Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid |
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| François Boucher Abduction of Europa 1747 oil on canvas Louvre |
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| François Boucher The Rising of the Sun 1753 oil on canvas Wallace Collection, London |
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| Jean-Honoré Fragonard The Musical Contest 1754 oil on canvas Wallace Collection, London |
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| François-Hubert Drouais Children of the Duc de Bouillon 1756 oil on canvas private collection |
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| Jean-Baptiste Greuze Portrait of Joseph (a model at the Art Academy) 1755 oil on canvas Louvre |
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| Jean-Baptiste Greuze Portrait of Ange-Laurent de La Live de Jully ca. 1759 oil on canvas National Gallery of Art, Washington DC |
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| François Boucher Vulcan presenting Venus with arms for Aeneas 1757 oil on canvas Louvre |
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| Maurice Quentin de La Tour Portrait of Madame de Pompadour ca. 1755 pastel Louvre |
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| Jean-Marc Nattier Portrait of Marie-Adelaide de Bourbon 1758 oil on canvas Louvre |
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| François Boucher Portrait of Madame de Pompadour 1759 oil on canvas Wallace Collection, London |