François Boucher

Born in Paris on 29 September 1703, Boucher trained as a draughtsman and etcher before finding his calling in paint. He worked in the Rococo style—curves, light, ornament—and made it the visual language of his era. His canvases offered idyllic and voluptuous takes on classical themes, decorative allegories, and pastoral scenes that turned the countryside into a fantasy. By mid-century he was perhaps the most celebrated painter and decorative artist in France, his aesthetic shaping everything from tapestries to boudoirs. He died in Paris on 30 May 1770, having spent a career making beauty look…