Paris, 1745. In his studio on Rue de Richelieu, François Boucher composes a gallant scene that embodies the very essence of the Rocaille style. Three young women share a moment of pastoral intimacy, surrounded by peaceful sheep and delicate flowers. One of them whispers a secret, creating this pastoral confidence that gives the work its title.
A Mastered Sensuality
Boucher deploys all his virtuosity in rendering fabrics. The draperies of white and golden yellow satin capture light with remarkable fluidity. Pearly flesh tones contrast with the deep blues of the sky and dark greens of the foliage. Every detail counts: the straw hat, the woven basket, the ribbons. The touch is light, almost vaporous, typical of the painter. The pyramidal composition is skillfully orchestrated; each gesture guides the eye toward the center of the canvas.
The Gallant Universe of Louis XV
This work reflects the tastes of the French aristocracy under Louis XV. The pastoral genre, which idealizes rural life, enjoyed immense success at the time. Courtiers dreamed of a fantasized countryside, far from the constraints of Versailles. Boucher, appointed first painter to the king in 1765, excelled in these scenes where aristocratic shepherdesses play at simplicity. His compositions adorned boudoirs, screens, and tapestry manufactories.
François Boucher
François Boucher (1703-1770) dominated French Rococo painting. Student of François Lemoyne, Prix de Rome winner at twenty, he became the favorite painter of Madame de Pompadour. His sensual and decorative style influenced an entire generation of artists and defined an aesthetic of 18th-century France.
Think about it
💭 How does Boucher here reconcile the rigor of classical composition with the unbridled sensuality of Rococo?
About This Work
- Les Confidences Pastorales (The Pastoral Confidences)
- François Boucher
- circa 1745
- Oil on canvas
- 93.98 × 132.08 cm (37 × 52 in.)
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- https://collections.lacma.org/node/229324
