Post #8 Early 18th Century Art

Francois Boucher was an 18th century painter known for painting in the Rococo style. Boucher was born in Paris, and around the age of 24 had the opportunity to travel and study in Italy. Upon his return to France in 1731, he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture as a historical painter. His talents as a painter included more than just historical scenes, he was able to paint mythological, genre, and portrait scenes as well, advancing his status to First Painter of the King. Much Francois Boucher's work was influenced by the paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, a 17th century painter who gathered a stylistic following, emphasizing the importance of color and Jean-Antoine Watteau, a more contemporary painter who fathered the Rococo style.

The piece by Francois Boucher I have chosen to look at in depth is titled An Autumn Pastoral (1749) and is a companion piece to A Summer Pastoral, both commissioned by the patron Trudaine for his home. This piece is a great example of Boucher's work and the Rococo style that he was known for. The word pastoral means of or relating to shepherds and herdsman or country people seen in a rural setting. This painting is a very simple scene, showing two figures, a man and woman, who appear to be in love. They are resting near a fountain, surrounded by a flock of sheep and their keeper. Pastorals in art often show how humans and nature can coexist within a landscape. As with much of Rococo art, the scene is set outside, and the figures are flanked by the organic shapes of nature. Trees that twist and grow in every direction and plant life that has overgrown the fountain. There are images of sheep and and a dog all resting together with the people in harmony.  There is a looseness to the brush stroke in the depiction of the vegetation and sky, another characteristic of Rococo painting, and the varying shades of green are contrasted by the light blue sky, highlighted by tinges of gold in the clouds.

Themes of love and eroticism were also a significant part if the Rococo style and can be clearly seen in this piece. The couple gazes into each others eyes while the man feeds the woman grapes from the basket, another connection between humans and nature. The couple also is shown to have no shoes on which could be carrying that theme further but were also known to have a symbolic connection to eroticism. According to lecture the inclusion of a dog was a popular symbol of loyalty and fidelity. Boucher includes a small dog next to the woman who appears at ease, perhaps suggesting that the two really are in love and are calmly submissive and loyal to each other. The inclusion of the shepherd boy to the right could be just in connection to the piece being a pastoral, but he could function as a symbol of love as well. The boy's eye is clearly looking at the couple while he is surrounded by a few tranquil sheep from his flock. Perhaps just as he leads, guides and cares for his herd, the man in the couple is mirroring those ideals. The other symbol of love that stands out is the relief sculpture depicted on the fountain. It appears that two cherubs are holding each other in a closeness that resembles the couple. Rococo art often would incorporate symbols that hinted at mythological parallels in their artwork.

Image: http://hoocher.com/Francois_Boucher/An_Autumn_Pastoral_1749.jpg
Works Cited:
http://www.francoisboucher.org/
http://hoocher.com/Francois_Boucher/Francois_Boucher.htm
Webster's Dictionary