François Boucher, The Toilette of Venus, 1751, 108 x 85 cm, New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
François Boucher, The Toilette of Venus, 1751, 108 x 85 cm, New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of William K. Vanderbilt, 1920In paintings by Boucher such as this one, we find the mood and a type of design characteristic of the Rococo period. Here we see Venus, the goddess of love in ancient mythology, attended by winged children. The painting was commissioned for the king’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour. The carved and guilt shapes of Venus’ bed are perfect examples of Rococo decoration. The soft, voluptuous, naked body of the goddess is as appealing as the sumptuous fabrics around her. The scene has a clear erotic quality. This is a woman meant to be desired. Madame de Pompadour had starred just a year before this picture in a play staged at Versailles titled “The toilette of Venus”, like this painting. This is not a literal portrait of her, but it does allude to her indirectly. -- source link
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