The Bath of Venus
1751
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 107 x 84.8 cm (42 1/8 x 33 3/8 in.) framed: 132.1 x 110.2 x 7.6 cm (52 x 43 3/8 x 3 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CF
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Chester Dale Collection
Accession Number
1943.7.2
Art Historical Context
François Boucher's "The Bath of Venus," painted in 1751, captures the elegance and sensuality associated with 18th-century French art. As a leading figure of the Rococo movement, Boucher often drew on mythological themes, portraying the goddess of love in intimate, idealized settings that appealed to aristocratic patrons of the time. The oil-on-canvas medium allowed him to achieve luminous skin tones and delicate textures, enhancing the work's playful yet refined atmosphere. Measuring just over three feet in height, this modestly scaled painting invites close viewing, a hallmark of Rococo cab...
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...