Bathing Nymph
c. 1745–50
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
42.6 × 47.1 cm (16 3/4 × 18 1/2 in.); Framed: 59.3 × 64.8 × 10.2 cm (23 3/8 × 25 1/2 × 4 in.)
Classification
painting
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
10287
Art Historical Context
François Boucher, one of the leading figures of the French Rococo movement, created *Bathing Nymph* around 1745–50 during the height of his career at the court of Louis XV. Rococo art celebrated lightness, elegance, and sensual pleasure, often drawing on mythological subjects to evoke an idealized world of leisure and beauty. Boucher’s works frequently featured graceful female figures in pastoral or classical settings, reflecting the refined tastes of aristocratic patrons, including his longtime supporter Madame de Pompadour. The painting’s intimate scale and oil-on-canvas medium allowed Bouc...
About the Artist
François Boucher · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...