François Boucher

François Boucher

François Boucher was a French Rococo artist who lived from 1703 to 1770. He was one of the most successful decorative artists of his time, thanks to his association with Madame de Pompadour and his esteemed position within the French Court. Boucher created paintings, tapestries, theater sets and costumes, and he helped create decorations for the lavish operas and court parties of his day. He lived and worked his entire life within the city of Paris.

Boucher was born into an artistic family. His father, Nicolas Boucher, was an artist himself and gave François his earliest art lessons. In 1720, he was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome, a scholarship program that began under Louis XIV that would pay for art students to study in Rome for several years.

François Boucher was quite famous in his time. In 1734, he joined the Royal Academy and soon after, his career took off. Boucher had several famous patrons within the palace of Versailles. He did commission work for the queen of Louis XV, Marie Leszczyńska of Poland. He had a fruitful relationship with Madame de Pompadour; a mistress who became one of the most influential advisors of King Louis XV.

Boucher was the favorite artist of Pompadour and as a result, she had him paint her portrait several times. Due to Pompadour’s influence, Boucher became the court painter to Louis XV and the court of Versailles in 1765 and his work became the hallmark of Louis XV’s court. That same year, he was appointed the director of the Royal Academy.

Boucher’s artistic style served more as light-hearted decorative pieces. Most of his themes were mythological and playful and reflected the ideals of the day; light and sweet. Unlike other Rococo artists, Boucher’s work did not depict only innocent scenes, though, and he painted more erotic, sensual, and decadent works than other artists. His works provided a nice respite from the harsh realities of life and politics, and being popular with Versailles made his work extremely fashionable.

François Boucher died in 1770 at age 66, while his art was still at its peak and before the Rococo style fell out of favor for Neoclassicism.

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