Venus and Mercury Instructing Cupid (1738)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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Francois Boucher's 1738 painting, "Venus and Mercury Instructing Cupid," charmingly embodies the Rococo style, recognized for its playful elegance and emphasis on themes of love and mythology. This delightful artwork, with its soft pastel tones and fluid lines, captures a tender moment in a celestial setting.Depicted in the foreground, the goddess Venus, known for her beauty and connection to love, reclines gracefully while gazing intently at Mercury. Mercury, identifiable by his winged helmet resting beside him, appears engaged in a close interaction with Venus. He loosely holds the reins of a pair of swans, further emphasizing his role as a messenger and his control over the scene's placidity.In Venus's lap sits Cupid, the god of desire, attentively reading from a book, suggesting that he is being taught lessons by his mother and Mercury. The presence of the book might signify the importance of learning and love’s complexities rather than just its more spontaneous aspects.The composition is framed by a cloud-filled sky that blends into a distant landscape, forming a serene backdrop to the divine instruction unfolding.
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François Boucher (1703–1770) was a French painter, engraver, illustrator and printmaker. He was a proponent of Rococo and had a huge influence in spreading the style throughout Europe. His art was idyllic and voluptuous with a high-toned palette of blues and pinks. He created designs for all decorative arts, porcelains and tapestries. Boucher also painted several portraits including his patroness Madame de Pompadour. He is one of the most celebrated decorative artists of the 18th century.